Customers are calling for a boycott of Bank of America, after a report that the bank handed over the account information of hundreds of innocent people in connection with the Jan. 6 deadly riots at the Capitol.
At the request of the FBI, the country’s second-largest bank allegedly snooped through information of anyone making certain purchases in and around Washington before and after the riots, and handed over the information of 211 people, according to Fox News’ Tucker Carlson.
Only one of those 211 people was brought in for questioning, and none of them were arrested, according to Fox’s report.
Federal investigators reportedly asked Bank of America for information on customers who made debit or credit card purchases in DC, reserved hotels and Airbnbs in and around the capital, patronized weapons store and made airline reservations within the timeframe surrounding the attacks.
Now, customers and non-customers alike are calling those reported actions an overreach, and taking to Twitter to announce they are canceling their accounts and calling on others to do the same.
“‘Bye bye, Bank of America’: Outraged customers boycott firm as it’s revealed the bank snooped through HUNDREDS of innocent people’s accounts looking for Capitol rioters – so who else is doing it?,” one user posted.
“Time to get out of Bank of America. Boycott them,” wrote another.
“The customer should SUE @BankofAmerica unless there was a subpoena involved!,” another user commented.
Bank of America released a statement Friday about the claims: “We don’t comment on our communications with law enforcement. All banks have responsibilities under federal law to cooperate with law enforcement inquiries in full compliance with the law.”
“If clients reach out to us and raise concerns, we’ll certainly speak to them about their concerns,” Bank of America spokesman William Halldin told The Post.
Under the 1970 Bank Secrecy Act, financial institutions are required to cooperate with law enforcement to detect money laundering, terrorist financing and other criminal acts.
The FBI has arrested more than 170 people in connection with the breach of the US Capitol, and have vowed to hunt down hundreds more rioters.
Five people — including a Capitol Police officer — died during the riots, and a second member of the Capitol Police and an officer with the DC Metro Police took their own lives in the aftermath.
Police and federal authorities were woefully overmatched by violent rioters on Jan. 6.
Then-President Donald Trump was impeached for a second time over his alleged role in inciting the riot, and faces a Senate trial next week.