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Barclays Bank has been confronted with an official grievance alleging anti-Semitism after a customer asserted that personnel in its Leicester business unit unjustly suspended his account due to his Israeli residency.
In a correspondence directed to group chief executive CS Venkatakrishnan, journalist Martin Blackham accused the bank of showing bias against him based on his nationality and geographic location.
Blackham, who mentioned he is affiliated with His Majesty’s press corps currently reporting on the conflict in Israel, claimed that his Barclays account had been restricted from standard use after the system flagged a request for additional information which he could not update online.
“Given that the account details indicate I am located in Israel, this is undeniably a case of anti-Semitism by the Barclays Business Team management in Leicester,” Blackham stated in his formal grievance.
He asserted that despite addressing the concern with Barclays three months prior, on 8 June, the bank had neglected to reply to his ongoing communications. He characterized the situation as “shameful” and called on Venkatakrishnan to initiate a “comprehensive inquiry” into the behavior of Leicester-based employees.
The letter further expressed: “Anti-Semitism has no place in the Barclays Leicester workspace, and I expect not only a rigorous investigation into this issue [but also] confirmation that the situation has been resolved.”
The account suspension, Blackham contended, had limited his access to finances while reporting from Israel, an operational challenge he labeled as both unprofessional and discriminatory. He also indicated this was not the first instance he faced such complications with Barclays.
Barclays, which employs over 80,000 individuals globally, has encountered increased scrutiny in recent years concerning its compliance protocols in high-risk areas. While the bank has not yet commented on Blackham’s individual claims, it has previously reiterated a “zero tolerance” stance towards any form of discrimination.
Complaints of anti-Semitism within UK financial institutions remain relatively infrequent, yet banks have been criticized in the past for unclear decisions to close or limit accounts associated with specific nationalities, residency statuses, or politically exposed individuals. In July 2023, NatWest had to apologize following the closure of Nigel Farage’s Coutts account, which sparked a political and regulatory uproar over “debanking.”
Blackham’s grievance adds a new perspective to that discussion, bringing to light questions about whether compliance measures might stray into unlawful discrimination.
A representative for the Board of Deputies of British Jews, when reached by Business Matters, stated: “We are deeply troubled to hear allegations of anti-Semitism within the banking sector. All financial entities must ensure that their compliance procedures are sound, transparent, and devoid of discriminatory practices.”
Barclays is anticipated to face pressure to respond promptly. The letter, dated Sunday 7 September, was shared with Business Matters after several months of silence from the bank, according to Blackham.
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) refrained from commenting on specific cases but referenced its guidelines mandating firms to treat customers equitably and act without bias.
With anti-Semitism levels in the UK at their peak since 1984, as reported by the Community Security Trust, the grievance is likely to attract broader examination of how banks reconcile compliance with equality responsibilities.
Whether Barclays perceives the account freeze as a procedural mistake, a compliance necessity, or a more serious internal shortcoming could influence the reputational implications. For now, Blackham asserts he is awaiting a response “without delay.”
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