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A3233Assembly2019-2020 Session

Ban Citizenship Checks at Banks

Official title

“Relates to preventing banks from asking account holders for proof of citizenship”

Sponsor Felix OrtizAD-51Affects Finance
Status
In Assembly Committee
Banks
Impact
6/10
Moderate
Passage
0%

Bill progress

Step 2 of 7

In committee · Banks

What's happening

This bill prohibits banks in New York from requesting proof of citizenship or freezing accounts due to lack of such proof.

Why it matters

  1. Expands access to banking services. By prohibiting banks from asking for proof of citizenship, the bill ensures that non-citizens, undocumented immigrants, and other vulnerable populations can open and maintain bank accounts without fear of discrimination or exclusion.

  2. Reduces risk of financial exclusion and insecurity. Preventing banks from freezing accounts due to lack of citizenship proof helps protect individuals from suddenly losing access to their funds, which can be critical for day-to-day living, paying bills, or emergencies.

  3. Strengthens privacy protections. The legislation limits the personal information banks can request, reducing the risk that sensitive citizenship or immigration status details could be shared, misused, or exposed to third parties, including government agencies.

  4. Supports social and economic integration. By making it easier for all residents to participate in the formal banking system, the bill can help promote financial stability, economic activity, and community trust, benefiting both individuals and the broader New York economy.

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Who cares

  • Banking organizations

    The bill would prohibit them from asking account holders about citizenship, requesting proof of citizenship or freezing accounts for failure to provide that proof.

  • Bank account holders

    Anyone whose name appears on a bank account would be protected from citizenship inquiries and account freezes based on failure to provide citizenship proof.

  • Bank compliance staff

    They would need to ensure account inquiries and freeze procedures comply with the prohibitions, which would take effect immediately.

Headline styles

Ban Citizenship Checks at Banks

Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.

Sponsors

Primary sponsor
Felix Ortiz

Assembly Member · Assembly District 51

No co-sponsors yet.

History

  1. Referred to banks
  2. Referred to banks

Full text

1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗

STATE OF NEW YORK

3233

2019-2020 Regular Sessions

IN ASSEMBLY

January 29, 2019

Introduced by M. of A. ORTIZ -- read once and referred to the Committee on Banks

AN ACT to amend the banking law, in relation to preventing banks from asking account holders for proof of citizenship

The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:

Section 1. The banking law is amended by adding a new section 6-n to read as follows:

§ 6-n. Proof of citizenship; account freeze. 1. For purposes of this section, "account holder" shall mean any individual whose name appears on a bank account.

2. No banking organization shall inquire into an account holder's citizenship or ask for proof of citizenship from such account holder.

3. No banking organization shall freeze a bank account because such account holder failed to provide proof of citizenship.

§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets

[ ] is old law to be omitted.

LBD06266-01-9

Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.

Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.