After years of liberal banking operations discriminating against companies in the firearms industry, federal lawmakers have introduced a measure to remedy the problem. And the powerful National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) is throwing its support behind Senate Bill 101 and House Resolution 987, both titled the Fair Access to Banking Act.
The measures were introduced by U.S. Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-North Dakota, and U.S. Rep. Andy Barr, R-Kentucky. Both believe that banks should be lending based on objective risk assessment like credit worthiness and not broad-based decisions affecting whole categories or classes of customers for political reasons.
“When progressives failed at banning these entire industries, what they did instead is they turned to weaponizing banks as sort of a backdoor to carry out their activist goals,” Sen. Cramer said in a press release announcing the measure. “Financial institutions are backed by taxpayers, for crying out loud! They should be obligated to provide services in an unbiased, risk-based manner. The Fair Access to Banking Act ensures that banks provide fair access to services and enacts strict penalties for categorically discriminating against legal industries and individuals.”
Larry Keane, NSSF senior vice president and general counsel, said in a news item that his organization fully supports the legislation.
“The Fair Access to Banking Act would stop corporate banks from picking winners and losers based on executives’ personal politics,” he said. “The legislation also protects banks from outside pressure by special interest groups seeking to use the banks as a weapon to advance their political agenda.”
Keane pointed out that Bank of America, Citigroup, Wells Fargo and JP Morgan Chase all have similar practices of discriminating against firearm and ammunition businesses.
“Those discriminatory policies, which have been allowed to linger for decades, must end,” Keane concluded. “Congress needs to act. The Fair Access to Banking Act is the key and as more Members of Congress and senators add their names to cosponsor the legislation, the pressure is mounting to get this legislation moved through Congress and sent to President Trump’s desk.”
Fixing the banking access problem for gun companies and conservative organizations is also a priority of President Donald Trump, who, just four days into his second term, used the world stage to call out American banks for their track record of discriminating against lawful American businesses. While speaking at the World Economic Forum 2025 in Davos, Switzerland, the president didn’t mince words.
“You and Jamie [JP Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon] and everybody else, I hope you start opening your banks to conservatives,” President Trump said directly to Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan. “What you’re doing is wrong.”
In a 2021 Congressional hearing, Dimon stated under oath that JP Morgan Chase would not lend to manufacturers of Modern Sporting Rifles (MSRs). “We do not finance the manufacture of military style weapons for civilian use,” he said.
This is needed.
What is also needed, is access to banking without handing over email, phone numbers, biometric info, etc. And get rid of paperless/cashless. It’s ridiculous, it’s a huge personal liability, ot takes away access, and it’s disability-unfriendly.
Personally I need physical currency to manage my money effectively, if I can’t see it then it doesn’t exist. This is surprisingly common, actually.
We are very close to the point, technologically speaking, where I will not be able to have a bank account.
As it is, I can’t access online banking and I can’t get my password reset either. Every swipe of the debit card, every check, etc. is a spin of the roulette wheel.
Before I had a debit card, it was SO much easier to manage.
Just wait until it’s all cryptocurrency.
Then the real fun begins.
Don’t get rid of pennies. “Saving money” is a lame excuse. It also costs more to make nickels than they’re worth.
The dime seams like a more logical choice for elimination.