{"id":2645397,"date":"2026-08-15T10:22:02","date_gmt":"2026-08-15T14:22:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/companies-back-down-after-red-state-ags-debanking-probe\/"},"modified":"2026-08-15T10:23:25","modified_gmt":"2026-08-15T14:23:25","slug":"companies-back-down-after-red-state-ags-debanking-probe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/companies-back-down-after-red-state-ags-debanking-probe\/","title":{"rendered":"Companies Back Down After Red State AG&#8217;s Debanking Probe"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fcompanies-back-down-after-red-state-ags-debanking-probe%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2645397&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Several financial services companies responded to an investigation by West Virginia attorney General J.B. McCuskey, affirming they do not discriminate against the firearms industry. this inquiry was initiated after McCuskey considered legal action against some banks and payment processors for allegedly denying services to Kent Cartridge Company,a firearms-related business. By August 2023, companies like First Internet Bank of Indiana, Ramp.com, and Bill.com confirmed they do not discriminate, leading to the conclusion that no lawsuits are necessary.The companies also claimed that some are not covered under the state&#8217;s Firearm Industry Nondiscrimination (FIND) Act. The national Shooting Sports Foundation praised the resolution, emphasizing the importance of fair access to financial services for firearm and ammunition businesses and protecting Second Amendment rights. Historically, efforts such as Operation Chokepoint under the Obama governance pressured banks to deny services to firearms companies, but these practices have been curtailed in recent years. the investigation and its outcome endorse the state&#8217;s commitment to ensuring nondiscriminatory treatment of firearm industry businesses.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><br \/>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Three financial services companies declared Monday in letters sent to Republican West Virginia Attorney General J.B. McCuskey that they did not discriminate against companies in the firearms industry, averting potential lawsuits from the state.<\/p>\n<p class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__paragraph\">McCuskey announced an investigation into whether the companies had wrongfully denied financial services to Kent Cartridge Company in a July 30 <a class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__link\" href=\"https:\/\/ago.wv.gov\/article\/attorney-general-mccuskey-sends-warning-financial-institutions-discriminating-against-west\">release<\/a>. First Internet Bank of Indiana, Ramp.com and Bill.com all issued responses confirming they did not and would not deny services to a company in the firearms industry by August 7, according to a Monday <a class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__link\" href=\"https:\/\/ago.wv.gov\/article\/update-following-attorney-general-action-financial-institutions-disavow-discrimination\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">release<\/a> from McCuskey\u2019s office.<\/p>\n<p class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__paragraph\">A spokesperson for McCuskey told the Daily Caller News Foundation that the matter was considered closed and that there would be no need to file lawsuits under the provisions of the Firearm Industry Nondiscrimination (FIND) Act. The legislation would also require the state to sever any relationships with financial services companies that discriminate against businesses in the firearms industry.<\/p>\n<p class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__paragraph\">\u201cFortunately, because these entities have affirmed they do not discriminate against firearm businesses and because BILL is now providing services to Kent Cartridge, there is no need to test either side\u2019s understanding via litigation at this time,\u201d the spokesperson said. Kent Cartridge Company, which makes shotshells for hunting and sport shooting, did not respond to a request for comment from the DCNF.<\/p>\n<p class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__paragraph\">\u201cWe are pleased that these financial companies have confirmed that they will treat members of the firearms industry the same way they treat all other business. The FIND Act exists because West Virginians care deeply about the right to bear arms and my Office is committed to protecting that right,\u201d McCuskey said in a Monday <a class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__link\" href=\"https:\/\/ago.wv.gov\/article\/update-following-attorney-general-action-financial-institutions-disavow-discrimination\">release<\/a>. \u201cI encourage any West Virginia firearms business, large or small, to reach out to our office if they have faced discrimination by a financial institution, bank, credit card company, or payment processor. We will investigate, and when warranted, take action.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__paragraph\">In their responses, <a class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__link\" href=\"https:\/\/ago.wv.gov\/media\/37743\/download?inline\">Ramp<\/a> and <a class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__link\" href=\"https:\/\/ago.wv.gov\/media\/37741\/download?inline\">Bill.com<\/a> both claimed that they were not covered under West Virginia\u2019s FIND Act. Neither company responded to requests for comment from the DCNF.<\/p>\n<p class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__paragraph\">First Internet Bank of Indiana <a class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__link\" href=\"https:\/\/ago.wv.gov\/media\/37742\/download?inline\">told<\/a> McCuskey in their response that they did not discriminate against the firearms industry, but denied they were responsible for Ramp\u2019s initial refusal to work with Kenty Cartridge Company, claiming they were \u201cunaware of any facts\u201d that would point to them as being involved. A First Internet Bank spokesman referred the DCNF to the letter sent to McCuskey.<\/p>\n<p class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__paragraph\">The National Shooting Sports Foundation praised the outcome of the investigation into the allegations.<\/p>\n<p class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__paragraph\">\u201cNSSF is extremely pleased that the quick and direct attention of Attorney General JB McCuskey has resolved this issue of potential financial discrimination against firearm and ammunition businesses in West Virginia,\u201d Managing Director for Public Affairs Mark Oliva told the DCNF. \u201cThis is what it looks like when elected officials are committed to the rule of law and respect for Second Amendment rights.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__paragraph\">\u201cOur industry wants to be able to conduct business on an even playing field. We want businesses to thrive because they offer the best products and services to law-abiding Americans who simply want to exercise their fundamental rights,\u201d Oliva continued. \u201cWest Virginia\u2019s Firearm Nondiscrimination (FIND) Act ensures that firearm and ammunition businesses won\u2019t be denied financial services because they don\u2019t fit into a \u2018woke\u2019 agenda. The end result is the best possible solution. Firearm and ammunition businesses are able to access the financial services they need to compete in the marketplace, financial service providers assured Attorney General McCuskey that no discriminatory policies will be enforced, and West Virginia businesses and jobs are safeguarded.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__paragraph\">The Obama administration <a class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__link\" href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2014\/05\/31\/nssf-issues-statement-on-operation-choke-point\/\">launched<\/a> \u201cOperation Chokepoint,\u201d which used the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to pressure banks to deny companies in the firearms industry financial services. While the first Trump administration <a class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__link\" href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2017\/08\/20\/justice-department-terminates-and-repudiates-operation-chokepoint\/\">halted<\/a> the practice, some <a class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__link\" href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2025\/06\/03\/citi-stops-debanking-gun-retailers\/\">financial institutions<\/a> continued to pressure companies in the firearms industries to adopt certain practices or face the closure of their accounts for years afterwards.<\/p>\n<p class=\"LexicalEditorTheme__paragraph\">\u201cNSSF is grateful to Attorney General McCuskey for his swift and decisive attention to resolve this matter and we  in his commitment to remain vigilant that these businesses are free from \u2018woke\u2019 financial discrimination,\u201d Oliva said.<\/p>\n<div class=\"disclaimer\">\n<p>All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter\u2019s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact <a href=\"http:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/mailto:licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org\">licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"disclaimer\">\n<p>All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter\u2019s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact <a href=\"http:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/mailto:licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org\">licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #171717; display: flex;font-size: 16px;font-weight: 600;line-height: 1.5;margin: 24px 0;padding: 18px 20px 18px 30px;text-align: left;\">\n<div style=\"align-self: stretch;border-left: 3px solid #171717;flex-shrink: 0;padding-left: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<p><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/\">Choose The Western Journal as your preferred source on Google and never miss reporting that defends truth, protects freedom, and advances Western civilization<\/a><\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey == typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts = { \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs = [ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i = 0; i < inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! ( opts[inputs[i]] = document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"' + inputs[i] + '\"]' ).value ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .required-message' ).style.display = 'block'; \t\t\t\t\t\treturn; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction input[type=\"submit\"]' ).style.display = 'none'; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).src = firefly_loading_gif_url; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display = 'inline-block';  \t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( 'ma subbing' );  \t\t\t\t\tif( firefly_post_id ) opts['post_id'] = firefly_post_id;  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Send the data using post with element id name and name2*\/ \t\t\t\t\tvar posting = jQuery.post( firefly_ajax_url, opts );  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Alerts the results *\/ \t\t\t\t\tposting.done( function( response ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif( response.success ) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( response.data ); \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display = 'none'; \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-confirm' ).style.display = 'block';  \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdataLayer.push( { 'event': 'submit-correction' } ); \t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> \t     \t\t\t\t\t\t     \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (BA1)\")<\/script> \t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/body><\/html><\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Three financial firms confirmed no discrimination against firearms businesses, ending West Virginia&#8217;s lawsuit threat<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2645398,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/IMG_1337.jpeg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[84214,84213,84216,84215],"class_list":["post-2645397","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-banking-crackdown","tag-corporate-regulation","tag-financial-investigation-2","tag-red-state-politics-3"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/IMG_1337.jpeg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2645397","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2645397"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2645397\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2645401,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2645397\/revisions\/2645401"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2645398"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2645397"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2645397"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2645397"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}