She Walked Into the Bank for a Simple Transaction – What Happened Next Will Leave You Furious!

A Black woman in Michigan has taken legal action against PNC Bank, claiming that she was unfairly denied the ability to cash a check because of her race. The incident took place in May 2023 when 33-year-old Kiara Young visited a PNC Bank branch in Canton Township, following advice from her own bank. She had a check for $10,500 from a local car dealership after selling her Cadillac CTX, but the situation quickly escalated into a confrontation that left her feeling humiliated.

Cashing the Check Turns Into a Nightmare

Young first attempted to cash the check at her own bank, but because the dealership’s account was with PNC, she was told there would be a hold placed on the funds. Hoping to avoid the delay, she headed to a nearby PNC Bank branch, expecting to walk out with her money. At first, things seemed routine. She was informed by the bank staff that a 2 percent fee would be applied to cash the check, a common practice when cashing large amounts.

However, things took an unexpected turn when the check drew more scrutiny from other bank employees. According to Young, they brought in a white bank manager who refused to cash the check without providing any clear reason.

“She took the check and said, ‘No, we are not going to cash this,’” Young recalled in her lawsuit. “I asked, ‘Why not?’ And she said, ‘We just can’t.’”

Humiliated and Confused

The situation left Young feeling embarrassed and confused. Having followed her own bank’s advice, she was caught off guard by PNC’s refusal to cash the check. Adding to the frustration, no specific explanation was offered. The interaction left her feeling targeted and deeply unsettled, believing that her race played a role in the bank’s decision.

“It was humiliating to be treated this way without any explanation,” Young stated, describing the bank manager as unprofessional and rude. The manager’s refusal to cash the check and her unfriendly demeanor only intensified Young’s feelings of discrimination.

Able to Cash the Check Elsewhere

Interestingly, the very next day, Young went to a different PNC Bank branch. To her relief, the check was cashed with no issues or fees, raising further questions about why she was denied service at the first location. No red flags were raised about the legitimacy of the check, and the processing fee that was initially mentioned was not even applied.

This stark contrast in treatment at two different branches prompted Young to take legal action. In her lawsuit, she alleges that the refusal to cash her check was not based on bank policy or a legitimate concern about the check’s authenticity, but rather on her race.

Allegations of Racial Discrimination

Young’s lawsuit points out that the bank’s failure to investigate the check before denying service was a deviation from PNC’s standard practices. Her legal team argues that the manager’s behavior demonstrated bias, alleging that the manager’s decision was influenced more by the color of Young’s skin than by any concern about the check.

“The only investigation (the bank manager) engaged in was determining Ms. Young’s skin color and seeing the amount of the check to be cashed,” her lawsuit claims. Young feels that the treatment she received was discriminatory and uncalled for.

PNC Bank’s Response

In response to the lawsuit, PNC Bank has asked for the case to be dismissed. The bank contends that the lawsuit is “factually deficient” and that it does not provide sufficient evidence to support the claim of racial discrimination. PNC believes the case lacks merit and is pushing for a swift dismissal.

This case sheds light on what some have called “Banking While Black,” a term used to describe instances where African Americans feel they are treated differently or unfairly by financial institutions based on their race. The outcome of Young’s lawsuit may contribute to a broader conversation about racial bias and discrimination in everyday transactions, particularly in the banking industry.

For now, Kiara Young is standing firm, seeking accountability for the treatment she experienced and hoping that her case will spark change in how banks handle similar situations in the future.