Suruga Bank denied a minority

We filed a lawsuit in a Japanese court in 2007 to restore the access to a bank account of minorities in Japan who were illegally denied a bank account. The lawsuit was filed in a lower court in Tokyo, Japan by a minority who attempted to open a bank account in Suruga bank, but was improperly processed and rejected due to nationality. Because Japan’s law bans misuse of personal data including nationality and minorities are guaranteed equal ID for a bank account, Suruga Bank illegally took away the access rights to a bank account.

We call on Suruga Bank to release illegal policy

In the “alien card lawsuit,” VAIBS (Victims Against Illegal Bank SURUGA) requested the release of the secret policy that led to the illegal process in Suruga Bank. Based on the arbitrary policy, Suruga Bank misused sensitive information of minorities. Releasing the secret policy proves that Suruga Bank is an illegal bank. So the illegal bank refused to disclose it.

2-year legal battle with Suruga Bank

In the lawsuit, Suruga Bank refused to disclose an allegedly illegal policy. Suruga Bank’s policy on personal ID targeted minorities. The arbitrary policy said, Suruga Bank denies a bank account if the bank cannot obtain “an alien card” from minorities, a driver’s licence unacceptable in case of minorities. We claimed the minority-only policy is illegal, and the illegal bank renounced the discriminatory policy. Suruga Bank covered it up.

Cover-up and Conspiracy

Victims Against Illegal Bank Suruga (VAIBS) filed a lawsuit in Tokyo District Court challenging Suruga Bank’s discriminatory policy. Suruga Bank divided equal rights to a bank account by forcing minorities-only ID confirmation. This policy threatens access to a bank and leaves minorities with few protections, especially personal information unnecessary for a bank account. According to the legal papers, the arbitrary policy significantly undermines the ability of millions of minorities to access a bank account. It expressly permits Suruga Bank to refuse to provide banking services, even a savings account. At the same time, it misuses sensitive information of minorities. In the lawsuit, Suruga Bank refused to disclose the disputed policy to cover up its illegal act.

Lies and Denials

We filed a lawsuit challenging the latest attempt by Suruga Bank to eradicate equal opportunity. The lawsuit, filed in Tokyo District Court, charges that minority-only ID requirement by Suruga Bank should not be done because it violates Personal Information Protection Act Article 16 to ban misuse of sensitive information. Suruga Bank claimed it did not use sensitive information, but the illegal bank refused to disclose the disputed policy in the lawsuit.