Wells Fargo to compensate disabled customers over discriminatory telephone services

American bank Wells Fargo has agreed to pay $16m in compensation to customers with hearing and speech problems it discriminated against by refusing to use a telecommunications relay service to conduct business over the telephone.

Financial technology news service Finextra reports that this agreement was part of a settlement with America's Justice Department, which also includes a $55,000 civic penalty and a $1m payment to non-profits assisting Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans with disabilities.

Thomas Perez, assistant attorney general, civil rights division, told Finextra: "Individuals who have disabilities must not be denied equal access to the services offered by financial institutions simply because of their disability.

"Wells Fargo has shown that it is committed to equal access and effective communication with its customers who have disabilities."

Perez also warns that other banks, who are refusing to use relay services, must makes changes like Wells Fargo.

Terminology used in my headline:

NB: The Finextra headline said "deaf customers" will be compensated, but I am not sure if all the customers with speech problems were also deaf.

I have used "disabled" in my headline, but apologies if it offends anyone with hearing and/or speech problems who do not like being regarded as disabled.

Feel free to comment on this.

I'm glad that this ruling has taken place.

People with hearing and speech problems should be able to bank as easily as anyone else.