ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. – A Comerica Bank branch in Rochester Hills is being accused of racial profiling after repeatedly denying a Black woman from cashing a settlement check, according to a recently filed lawsuit.
Shanquese Jones said she tried four times to cash a legitimate insurance settlement check worth $1,000, and that the bank continuously denied her. “Banking while Black” is something Jones said she’s heard of, but never thought she’d experience.
“I never got racially profiled before, so I walked outside, and I was crying,” Jones said. “It was embarrassing.”
Jones presented the signed check, and even submitted a thumbprint signature, her attorney told Local 4. She was told that there was an issue with the check and that it needed to get reissued -- which she reportedly did four separate times.
Before filing a lawsuit against the Comerica Bank branch at the corner of Adams Road and Walton Boulevard, Jones’ attorney decided to try to test whether racial discrimination was actually at play.
Attorney Brandon McNeal said he sent a white customer with a Comerica Bank account to the same branch to cash an insurance settlement check for $1,000, the same as Jones’ check. McNeal said the white customer had “none of the same issues” cashing that check.
Jones believes she was unable to cash her check because of racial discrimination. McNeal said he’s comfortable putting the issue “in a jury’s hands” because the bank has essentially “stolen [Jones’] check and provided [her] with no recourse but to file this lawsuit.”
Comerica Bank said it will not comment due to the issue becoming a legal matter.