Bank of America Settles Epstein Accusers' Lawsuit

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Bank of America has settled a civil lawsuit brought by women who accused the bank of facilitating their sexual abuse by Jeffrey Epstein. The proposed class action alleged that the bank ignored suspicious financial transactions related to Epstein despite having information about his crimes, prioritizing profit over protecting victims. The settlement must still be approved by a judge, and a scheduled deposition and trial will not go forward.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing legal fallout from Epstein's sex trafficking crimes, with banks and other institutions accused of enabling his activities. It raises questions about corporate responsibility and the role financial institutions may have played in facilitating abuse.

The details

The lawsuit, filed by a woman using the pseudonym Jane Doe, accused Bank of America of knowingly benefiting from Epstein's sex trafficking and obstructing enforcement of the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Act. Among the transactions flagged were payments to Epstein by Apollo Global Management's billionaire co-founder, Leon Black, who had been scheduled to be questioned under oath but will no longer have to do so due to the settlement.

• The proposed class action was filed in October.
• In January, a judge ruled that Bank of America must face the claims.
• The settlement was reached in March 2026.
• A scheduled deposition and trial will not go forward due to the settlement.
• Epstein died in a Manhattan jail cell in August 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.

What’s next

Judge Jed Rakoff must still approve the settlement between Bank of America and the Epstein accusers.