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Bank of America Complaint: Epstein Banking Relationship (2025)

Civil complaint filed against Bank of America alleging the bank maintained a banking relationship with Jeffrey Epstein despite red flags, following similar actions against JPMorgan ($290M settlement) and Deutsche Bank ($75M settlement).

U.S. District Court
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Overview

In October 2025, a civil complaint was filed against Bank of America alleging that the bank maintained a banking relationship with Jeffrey Epstein despite red flags about suspicious financial activity. The lawsuit follows successful legal actions against JPMorgan Chase (which settled for $290 million with victims and $75 million with the USVI) and Deutsche Bank (which settled for $75 million with the USVI).

The Bank of America case represents the third major banking institution to face litigation over its financial relationship with Epstein.

Background

Jeffrey Epstein maintained banking relationships with multiple major financial institutions over the course of his career. According to court filings and media reporting, these relationships facilitated the movement of substantial sums of money, including funds used in connection with his criminal activities.

The scrutiny of Epstein's banking relationships intensified following his 2019 federal arrest and death, and particularly after the Ghislaine Maxwell trial in 2021, which provided additional evidence about the financial dimensions of Epstein's criminal enterprise.

The Complaint

According to reporting by Reuters and the Wall Street Journal, the complaint against Bank of America alleges:

Knowledge of Suspicious Activity

The complaint alleges that Bank of America had or should have had knowledge that Epstein's financial transactions were suspicious. According to the filing:

  • The bank maintained Epstein as a customer despite his 2008 conviction and registration as a sex offender
  • Financial transactions through Epstein's accounts displayed patterns consistent with money laundering or structuring
  • Bank compliance systems should have flagged Epstein's accounts for enhanced due diligence
  • The bank failed to file adequate Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) related to Epstein's transactions

Facilitation Allegations

The complaint further alleges that the bank's continued provision of banking services facilitated Epstein's criminal activities by:

  • Enabling the movement of funds used to pay victims and witnesses
  • Providing financial infrastructure for Epstein's operations
  • Failing to take action that could have disrupted the criminal enterprise
  • Maintaining accounts that were used in connection with sex trafficking

Anti-Money Laundering Obligations

Banks are subject to extensive anti-money laundering (AML) regulations under the Bank Secrecy Act and related federal laws. These regulations require financial institutions to:

  • Implement customer due diligence (CDD) and know-your-customer (KYC) programs
  • Monitor accounts for suspicious activity
  • File Suspicious Activity Reports when warranted
  • Maintain compliance programs adequate to detect and report potential criminal activity

The complaint alleges that Bank of America failed to meet these obligations with respect to Epstein's accounts.

Precedent from Prior Cases

The JPMorgan and Deutsche Bank cases established significant precedent for banking liability in the Epstein case:

JPMorgan Chase settled a class-action lawsuit brought by Epstein victims for $290 million in June 2023. The lawsuit alleged that JPMorgan maintained Epstein as a client and facilitated financial transactions despite knowledge of suspicious activity. JPMorgan also paid $75 million to the USVI government.

Deutsche Bank agreed to pay $75 million to the USVI government in October 2023. The bank had previously been fined $150 million by New York regulators in 2020 for compliance failures related to its Epstein banking relationship.

Current Status

The Bank of America case is in its early stages. According to court records and media reporting:

  • The complaint has been filed and the bank has been served
  • Bank of America has not publicly commented on the specific allegations
  • Discovery proceedings are expected to produce additional evidence about the bank's relationship with Epstein
  • The case is expected to take years to reach resolution, whether through settlement or trial

Significance

The Bank of America lawsuit is significant for several reasons:

  1. Pattern of institutional failure — The case reinforces the pattern of major financial institutions allegedly failing to adequately monitor Epstein's accounts
  2. Ongoing accountability — The lawsuit demonstrates that legal accountability efforts continue years after Epstein's death
  3. Financial industry impact — The cumulative banking settlements and litigation have prompted industry-wide discussions about compliance standards for high-risk clients
  4. Victim advocacy — The lawsuit represents continued efforts by victims and their attorneys to hold enabling institutions accountable

Sources and Further Reading