A Black businessman in Kansas City is suing Commerce Bank after he was allegedly denied service and falsely reported to police while trying to open business accounts.
According to the Kansas City Star, Michael Waller, 64, filed a lawsuit against Commerce Bank, saying bank employees discriminated against him and refused to help him open accounts for his two businesses because of his race.
The lawsuit stems from Waller's initial visit on June 20 to Commerce Bank's Antioch location in Overland Park, where he already held a personal account.
Waller was first told he didn't have the correct paperwork to open the two business accounts. After returning with the correct documents, Waller said a bank employee questioned why he wasn't opening the accounts closer to his home. The employee allegedly denied him service and reported him to the fraud department. According to the lawsuit, police were called as he and his fiancé were leaving the bank.
The lawsuit states that Waller went to a second Commerce Bank location on Troost Avenue to attempt to open the accounts and to file a complaint. Waller was allegedly told by the branch manager that he was ineligible to open business accounts at Commerce Bank following a decision by the bank's investigations department.
Waller said the incident left him with emotional distress and led to lost business opportunities due to the delays. He later opened accounts with another bank without issue, according to the suit.
“The conduct of Defendants was outrageous and evidenced an evil motive and/or conscious disregard for the rights of Plaintiff and others,” the lawsuit states.
A court conference is set for March 3. Commerce Bank hasn't publicly responded to the allegations.
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