Armenian-American Action Network Condemns Citi's Anti-Armenian American Discrimination, Welcomes Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Announcement, And Calls for Immediate Action
For Immediate Release
December 20, 2023
info@ArmenianActionNetwork.org
UNITED STATES—Armenian-American Action Network, a leading Armenian-American civil rights organization, strongly condemns Citi's extensive and systemic discrimination against Armenian-Americans. We call on Citi corporation to redress the harm caused, compensating all affected individuals, and take decisive action immediately to eradicate anti-Armenian discrimination within its operations and work toward such efforts, in partnership with Armenian-American-led and constituency-based organizations, within larger U.S. society.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has ordered Citi to pay $25.9 million in fines and consumer redress for intentionally and illegally discriminating against credit card applicants the bank identified as Armenian-American. Armenian-American Action Network welcomes the news of CFPB’s investigation and fines. More action, however, must be taken on the corporation’s behalf to demonstrate that such racism and illegal activity will not be part of Citi’s future. Citi must invest in efforts to tackle anti-Armenian racism in the future.
According to the CFPB investigation, from 2015 through 2021, Citi singled out for discrimination applicants for credit cards, based on their surnames, whom it suspected of being of Armenian descent. This is an illegal, jarring and unethical example of institutional and structural anti-Armenian racism against Armenian-Americans in the United States. Citi must apologize and make material reparations to the identified consumers and commit to advancing the fight against anti-Armenian discrimination and supporting the wider Armenian-American community through programming, support, education, awareness, and resourcing. AAAN Executive Director Dr. Sophia Armen stated the following:
“Armenian-Americans are outraged and disturbed that Citi would engage in such unlawful activity and racist policy, especially targeting immigrant Armenians in our community. As patrons of Citi’s business, Armenian-Americans must be treated with their full rights and protections as required by law, as all other people in the United States. We are extremely concerned not only with Citi’s systemic anti-Armenian racism and discrimination revealed by CFPB but also by the action, and lack of action, of the Citi corporation after the investigation came to light.”
Armen continued “Calling crime rings ‘Armenian,’ identifying Armenian last names as criminal, and thus all Armenians as inherently suspect of dubious and illegal activity, reveals widespread bias in the structures of Citi and perpetuation of anti-Armenian racism, anti-immigrant racism, and anti-refugee racism. Citi must move forward by demonstrating tangible action on confronting this painful past in order to be part of a more inclusive and just future. Citi must compensate all affected individuals and invest in Armenian institutions, anti-bias training, and meaningful partnerships with the Armenian-American community or we don’t see how Armenian-Americans nor advocates of equality could ever use Citi’s services again.”
Armenian-American Action Network calls on the leadership of Citi to engage Armenian-American community organizations to change course immediately and make meaningful strides to support anti-discrimination efforts of Armenian-Americans. Armenian-American Action Network calls for the leadership of Citi to engage in training and education on historical and current anti-Armenian discrimination and racism in the United States. Armenian-American Action Network calls on Citi to invest in Armenian-American institutions and initiatives to begin the road to repair and reconciliation.
About Armenian-American Action Network
Armenian-American Action Network (AAAN) is an U.S. advocacy and research organization fighting anti-Armenian racism and discrimination in the United States, teaching Armenian-American history, and forwarding civil, immigrant and refugee rights for Armenian-Americans.
info@armenianactionnetwork.org
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