Everytown Applauds Bank of America for Changing its Lending Policies for Gun Manufacturer Clients

NEW YORK — Everytown for Gun Safety, the nation’s largest gun violence prevention organization, today applauded Bank of America’s decision to no longer finance companies that manufacture assault-style firearms for civilian use. Anne Finucane, Bank of America’s vice chairman said Tuesday, “We want to contribute in any way we can to reduce these mass shootings — it’s such a tragedy in the United States.”

Bank of America’s decision comes after Everytown for Gun Safety released a set of guidelines for how financial institutions can help reduce gun violence by requiring business customers involved in the firearms industry to follow responsible business practices. The company’s decision also comes on the heels of Citigroup’s announcement that it would bar customers from engaging in firearm sales without a background check and to anyone under the age of 21 and that it would also prohibit the sale of bump stocks and high-capacity magazines by its business customers.

STATEMENT FROM JOHN FEINBLATT, PRESIDENT OF EVERYTOWN FOR GUN SAFETY:

“When the second-largest bank in the U.S. takes concrete steps to prevent gun violence, it sends a clear message to the entire industry: It’s time for every financial institution to do their part. We applaud Bank of America for walking the walk on gun safety.”