Filed Date: Oct. 19, 2023
Closed Date: May 20, 2025
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This case involved the United States’ enforcement of federal fair lending laws against Ameris Bank for discriminatory redlining practices in majority-Black and Hispanic neighborhoods in Jacksonville, Florida.
On October 19, 2023, the United States filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida against Ameris Bank, alleging violations of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act. The government claimed that Ameris Bank engaged in unlawful redlining—denying or discouraging mortgage and credit applications on the basis of race, color, or national origin—in neighborhoods that were majority Black and Hispanic. The complaint asserted that these practices were not based on business necessity or legitimate considerations and instead reflected intentional discrimination. The United States sought declaratory and injunctive relief, monetary damages, and civil penalties. The case was assigned to District Judge Marcia Morales Howard and Magistrate Judge Laura Lothman Lambert.
On the same day, October 19, 2023, the parties jointly filed a proposed consent order to resolve all claims. After initial review, Judge Howard denied the motion without prejudice on November 1, 2023, instructing the parties to address procedural issues before resubmitting. The United States filed a renewed joint motion for entry of the consent order on November 3, 2023, which the court granted on November 7, 2023, entering the order the same day.
The consent order required Ameris Bank to establish extensive mechanisms to ensure compliance with federal fair lending laws, including the creation of fair lending oversight systems, staff training programs, and community credit assessments. The order required the bank to hire a dedicated full-time employee to oversee lending in majority-Black and Hispanic census tracts, open a new full-service branch in such a tract, and maintain a loan subsidy fund, partnerships with community-based and governmental organizations, and outreach and consumer financial education programs targeted at these communities. The order also established reporting and monitoring requirements and was to remain in effect for five years.
On May 19, 2025, the United States filed an unopposed motion to terminate the consent order and dismiss the case with prejudice, stating that Ameris Bank had satisfied the order’s requirements. The next day, May 20, 2025, Judge Howard granted the motion, terminated the consent order, and dismissed the case with prejudice, formally concluding the litigation.
Summary Authors
Renuka Wagh (2/9/2024)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/67896408/parties/united-states-v-ameris-bank/
Howard, Marcia Morales (Florida)
Kenneth, Michael (Florida)
Pettis, Yohance Asim (Florida)
Goldberg, Noah Shea (Florida)
Gore, Nikhil Vikas (Florida)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/67896408/united-states-v-ameris-bank/
Last updated Oct. 28, 2025, 5:15 p.m.
State / Territory: Florida
Case Type(s):
Fair Housing/Lending/Insurance
Special Collection(s):
Trump Administration 2.0: Reversing Course on Existing Litigation
Key Dates
Filing Date: Oct. 19, 2023
Closing Date: May 20, 2025
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
Plaintiff is the United States government
Plaintiff Type(s):
U.S. Dept of Justice plaintiff
Public Interest Lawyer: No
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Ameris Bank, Private Entity/Person
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Fair Housing Act/Fair Housing Amendments Act (FHAA), 42 U.S.C. §§ 3601 et seq.
Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA), 15 U.S.C. § 1691
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Plaintiff
Nature of Relief:
Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement
Source of Relief:
Form of Settlement:
Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree
Amount Defendant Pays: $9,000,000
Issues
General/Misc.:
Discrimination Area:
Discrimination Basis:
National origin discrimination
Affected Race(s):