Federal regulators apparently force bank to take down religioussymbols

[Brownstein, Alan]

The Bank President's message is also confusing. He is quoted as stating that "The bank publishes a Bible verse on its website and tellers display crosses and other Christian-themed items in their workplace." Does that mean that non-Christian employees are required to display crosses and other Christian symbols and messages from their desks  and workstations?


Alan Brownstein


From: religionlaw-bounces at lists.ucla.edu [mailto:religionlaw-bounces at lists.ucla.edu] On Behalf Of Volokh, Eugene
Sent: Friday, December 17, 2010 3:37 PM
To: Law & Religion issues for Law Academics
Subject: RE: Federal regulators apparently force bank to take down religioussymbols


            Very interesting, thanks!  But I'm a bit confused by the Kansas City Fed chairman's statement, http://www.kansascityfed.org/publicat/newsroom/2010pdf/press.release.12.17.pdf .  It suggests that the regulation "does not apply to jewelry or other personal items displayed in the workplace"; but the materials, especially on the Web site, don't seem like "personal items" - they seem like statements from the bank management itself.  Is the claim that employees may put up their own decorations and statements, but that the bank can't put up decorations and statements endorsed by the management?  Or is it something else?



            Eugene



 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Tim Todd

December 17, 2010 816/881-2308

timothy.todd at kc.frb.org<mailto:timothy.todd at kc.frb.org>

STATEMENT FROM FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF KANSAS CITY

PRESIDENT TOM HOENIG

"The Federal Reserve's interactions with supervised institutions are subject to strict confidentiality. However, we have become aware of substantial confusion and misinformation related to the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City and one of the banks it regulates in Oklahoma. The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City and the bank are working cooperatively and closely to clarify this issue.

"There have been references made to Regulation B (12 CFR 202 et. seq.), which implements the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, and prohibits discriminatory creditor practices. Regulation B, as interpreted by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, does not apply to jewelry or other personal items displayed in the workplace.

"As the regional headquarters for the nation's central bank, the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City's officers, management and staff recognize the critical importance of community banks and the freedom under which they can serve their communities by providing financial services and fair access to credit."
As the regional headquarters of the nation's central bank, the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City and its branches in Denver, Oklahoma City and Omaha serve the seven states of the Tenth Federal Reserve District: Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Wyoming, northern New Mexico and western Missouri. The Bank participates in setting national monetary policy, is responsible for supervising and regulating numerous commercial banks and bank holding companies, serves as the bank for the U.S. government and for commercial banks, and provides other payment services to depository institutions.

From: religionlaw-bounces at lists.ucla.edu [mailto:religionlaw-bounces at lists.ucla.edu] On Behalf Of Kevin Pybas
Sent: Friday, December 17, 2010 3:31 PM
To: 'Law & Religion issues for Law Academics'
Subject: RE: Federal regulators apparently force bank to take down religioussymbols

This story from the Oklahoma City newspaper indicates that the Federal Reserve has changed its position about the bank and the items in question.

http://newsok.com/feds-relent-on-oklahoma-banks-display-of-christian-themed-items/article/3524584?custom_click=headlines_widget


Kevin Pybas

________________________________
From: religionlaw-bounces at lists.ucla.edu [mailto:religionlaw-bounces at lists.ucla.edu] On Behalf Of Volokh, Eugene
Sent: Friday, December 17, 2010 3:09 PM
To: Law & Religion issues for Law Academics
Subject: Federal regulators apparently force bank to take down religioussymbols

Any thoughts on this story?  See also Sen. Inhofe & Rep. Lucas's response, at http://inhofe.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressRoom.PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=f5d51d96-f7ff-cb88-e863-3b8dfc32eacc


http://www.koco.com/r/26162860/detail.html

A small-town bank in Oklahoma said the Federal Reserve won't let it keep religious signs and symbols on display.
Federal Reserve examiners [who came for a regularly scheduled inspection visit] deemed a Bible verse of the day, crosses on the teller's counter and buttons that say "Merry Christmas, God With Us." ... inappropriate. The Bible verse of the day on the bank's Internet site also had to be taken down....
Specifically, the feds believed, the symbols violated the discouragement clause of Regulation B of the bank regulations. According to the clause, "...the use of words, symbols, models and other forms of communication ... express, imply or suggest a discriminatory preference or policy of exclusion." ...

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