“I was so upset I just took a picture of the bank on my way out because I didn’t know the address,” she added. “I had this check, and I didn’t want it on me now,” Pugh told CNN. Pugh says she was able to cash it at another bank. Fortunately, Michigan has a strong statute prohibiting discrimination in ‘public accommodations,’ including banks.” It is not only young Black men who are profiled.

Pugh is yet another example of the hurdles and indignities facing Black Americans as they try to get through the day.

In a statement to CNN, Pugh’s attorney Deborah Gordon said, “What happened to Ms. Our employees are trained to help every customer with their banking needs, and our employees follow procedures to facilitate the opening of any new account,” a spokesperson for Fifth Third Bank said in a statement to CNN. From our review of the claims, we believe the facts to be different than what is alleged. “We are committed to fair and responsible banking and prohibit discrimination of any kind. and Fifth Third Financial Corporation filed a response this week denying the allegations, including that their employee decided that the check was “fraudulent.” They also dispute that any events occurred that would warrant damages or other relief, according to the court filing. Eventually the bank employees gave Pugh her check back.įifth Third Bank, N.A.

Pugh then spoke with a third bank employee who also said the check was fraudulent and because of that the bank would not allow Pugh to open an account and deposit the check. The 71-year-old Detroit public school retiree says she was then forced to confront bank employees who initially refused to give her check back.Īccording to the complaint, Pugh asked the bank employees to call 911 because she was not leaving without her check.

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