Case: United States v. Cadence Bank, N.A.

1:21-CV-03586 | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia

Filed Date: Aug. 30, 2021

Closed Date: May 29, 2025

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Case Summary

This is a case challenging a bank’s alleged discriminatory lending practices.  On August 30, 2021, the United States of America filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia in the Atlanta Division. The government sued Cadence Bank, N.A., asserting violations of the Fair Housing Act (FHA) and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA). The government alleged that Cadence engaged in unlawful redlining by refusing to provide home loans and other mortgage services…

This is a case challenging a bank’s alleged discriminatory lending practices. 

On August 30, 2021, the United States of America filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia in the Atlanta Division. The government sued Cadence Bank, N.A., asserting violations of the Fair Housing Act (FHA) and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA). The government alleged that Cadence engaged in unlawful redlining by refusing to provide home loans and other mortgage services in majority-Black and Hispanic neighborhoods, while concentrating its outreach, advertising, and marketing in majority-white neighborhoods. The government sought injunctive and declaratory relief, along with monetary damages and a civil penalty against Cadence. The case was assigned to District Judge J. P. Boulee.

On August 30, 2021, the parties filed a joint motion for approval and entry of a proposed consent order. The terms required Cadence to provide fair lending training, conduct a community credit needs assessment, and establish a new full-service branch in a majority-Black and Hispanic census tract, among other things, and would remain in effect for five years. The next day, the court signed the consent order.

After a change in presidential administration, on May 27, 2025, the government filed a motion to terminate the consent order early and dismiss the case, arguing that Cadence had demonstrated a commitment to remediation. Two days later, the court granted the government’s motion.

Summary Authors

Alexis Gil (6/29/2026)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/60324861/parties/united-states-v-cadence-bank-na/


Judge(s)

Boulee, Jean-Paul (Georgia)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Hughes, Aileen Bell (Georgia)

Jo, Y. Soo (Georgia)

Towt, Katharine F. (Georgia)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

1:21-CV-03586

Complaint

Aug. 30, 2021

Aug. 30, 2021

Complaint
4

1:21-CV-03586

Consent Order

United States of America v. Cadence Bank, N.A.

Aug. 31, 2021

Aug. 31, 2021

Order/Opinion
6

1:21-CV-03586

Unopposed Motion And Memorandum In Support To Terminate Consent Order And Dismiss With Prejudice

United States of America v. Cadence Bank, N.A.

May 27, 2025

May 27, 2025

Pleading / Motion / Brief
7

1:21-CV-03586

Order Terminating Consent Order And Dismissing With Prejudice

United States of America v. Cadence Bank, N.A.

May 29, 2025

May 29, 2025

Order/Opinion

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/60324861/united-states-v-cadence-bank-na/

Last updated July 22, 2026, 3:10 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT with Jury Demand filed by United States of America. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit -A, # 2 Civil Cover Sheet)(eop) Please visit our website at http://www.gand.uscourts.gov/commonly-used-forms to obtain Pretrial Instructions and Pretrial Associated Forms which includes the Consent To Proceed Before U.S. Magistrate form. (Entered: 08/30/2021)

1 Exhibit -A

View on PACER

2 Civil Cover Sheet

View on PACER

Aug. 30, 2021

Aug. 30, 2021

Clearinghouse
2

REQUEST FOR WAIVER of Service mailed to Jeffrey P. Naimon on 8/30/2021. (eop) (Entered: 08/30/2021)

Aug. 30, 2021

Aug. 30, 2021

3

Joint MOTION to Approve Consent Judgment by United States of America. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Jo, Y.) (Entered: 08/30/2021)

Aug. 30, 2021

Aug. 30, 2021

4

Consent Order re 3 Motion to Approve Consent Judgment. Signed by Judge J. P. Boulee on 8/31/21. (rlh) (Entered: 08/31/2021)

Aug. 31, 2021

Aug. 31, 2021

Clearinghouse

Civil Case Terminated. (rlh)

Aug. 31, 2021

Aug. 31, 2021

5

NOTICE of Appearance by Aileen Bell Hughes on behalf of United States of America (Hughes, Aileen) (Entered: 05/27/2025)

May 27, 2025

May 27, 2025

6

Unopposed MOTION and Memorandum in Support to Terminate Consent Order and Dismiss with Prejudice 4 Order on Motion to Approve Consent Judgment with Brief In Support by United States of America. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Hughes, Aileen) (Entered: 05/27/2025)

1 Text of Proposed Order

View on PACER

May 27, 2025

May 27, 2025

Clearinghouse
7

ORDER granting 6 Motion to Terminate Consent Order and Dismiss with Prejudice. Signed by Judge J. P. Boulee on 5/29/2025. (gww) (Entered: 05/29/2025)

May 29, 2025

May 29, 2025

Clearinghouse

Case Details

State / Territory:

Georgia

Case Type(s):

Fair Housing/Lending/Insurance

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Reversing Course on Existing Litigation

Key Dates

Filing Date: Aug. 30, 2021

Closing Date: May 29, 2025

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

The plaintiff is the Department of Justice (DOJ) which is an executive department of the United States federal government that oversees the domestic enforcement of federal laws and the administration of justice.

Plaintiff Type(s):

U.S. Dept of Justice plaintiff

Attorney Organizations:

U.S. Dept. of Justice Civil Rights Division

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Private Entity/Person

Cadence Bank, N.A.

Defendant Type(s):

Bank or credit provider

Jurisdiction-wide

Facility Type(s):

Non-government for-profit

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA), 15 U.S.C. § 1691

Fair Housing Act/Fair Housing Amendments Act (FHAA), 42 U.S.C. §§ 3601 et seq.

Other Dockets:

Northern District of Georgia 1:21-CV-03586

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Relief Sought:

Damages

Declaratory judgment

Injunction

Relief Granted:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Source of Relief:

Settlement

Form of Settlement:

Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree

Order Duration: 2021 - 2025

Issues

General/Misc.:

Housing

Other Banking

Racial profiling

Racial segregation

Discrimination Area:

Disparate Impact

Disparate Treatment

Housing Sales/Rental

Lending

Discrimination Basis:

National origin discrimination

Race discrimination

Affected Language(s):

Spanish

Affected National Origin/Ethnicity(s):

Hispanic

Affected Race(s):

Black

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