Case: United States v. First National Bank of Pennsylvania

1:24-cv-00088 | U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina

Filed Date: Feb. 5, 2024

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Case Summary

This is a case challenging a bank’s lending practices.  On February 5, 2024, the United States of America and the State of North Carolina filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina. The plaintiffs sued First National Bank of Pennsylvania (FNB) for violations of the North Carolina Unfair and Deceptive Practices Act (NCUDPA), Dodd-Frank Act, Fair Housing Act (FHA), and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA). The plaintiffs alleged that FNB discriminat…

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

On February 5, 2024, the United States of America and the State of North Carolina filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina. The plaintiffs sued First National Bank of Pennsylvania (FNB) for violations of the North Carolina Unfair and Deceptive Practices Act (NCUDPA), Dodd-Frank Act, Fair Housing Act (FHA), and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA). The plaintiffs alleged that FNB discriminated against applicants based on race, color, and national origin by redlining majority-Black and Hispanic communities and denying residents of those communities equal access to home loans, among other things. The plaintiffs sought injunctive and declaratory relief, along with monetary damages, restitution, and a civil penalty against FNB. The case was assigned to District Judge Catherine C. Eagles.

On February 5, 2024, the parties submitted proposed consent orders for the court's approval. The proposed consent orders required FNB to conduct a community credit needs assessment, provide fair lending training, establish new branches in majority-Black and Hispanic census tracts, among other things, and would remain in effect for five years. On February 13, 2024, Judge Eagles entered the consent orders. 

Summary Authors

Alexis Gil (6/22/2026)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/68222832/parties/united-states-of-america-v-first-national-bank-of-pennsylvania/


Judge(s)

Eagles, Catherine Caldwell (North Carolina)

Attorney for Plaintiff

CRAWFORD, CASSANDRA L. (North Carolina)

MCGHEE, JASMINE S. (North Carolina)

Attorney for Defendant

COOPER, JAMES W. (North Carolina)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

1:24-cv-00088

Complaint

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF PENNSYLVANIA

Feb. 5, 2024

Feb. 5, 2024

Complaint
3

1:24-cv-00088

Memorandum In Support Of Consent Motion For Entry Of Consent Order

United States of America et al. v. First National Bank of Pennsylvania

Feb. 5, 2024

Feb. 5, 2024

Pleading / Motion / Brief
8

1:24-cv-00088

Consent Order

United States of America et al. v. First National Bank of Pennsylvania

Feb. 13, 2024

Feb. 13, 2024

Order/Opinion

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/68222832/united-states-of-america-v-first-national-bank-of-pennsylvania/

Last updated June 24, 2026, 3:12 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT- and Jury Trial Demanded against FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF PENNSYLVANIA, filed by UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B, # 3 Exhibit C, # 4 Exhibit D)(CRAWFORD, CASSANDRA) Modified on 2/5/2024 to properly set out Exhibit titles.(lg) Modified to add text to title on 2/6/2024 (al). (Entered: 02/05/2024)

1 Exhibit A

View on PACER

2 Exhibit B

View on PACER

3 Exhibit C

View on PACER

4 Exhibit D

View on PACER

Feb. 5, 2024

Feb. 5, 2024

Clearinghouse
2

Consent Motion for Entry of Consent Order by STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Response to Motion due by 2/26/2024. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(CRAWFORD, CASSANDRA) Modified on 2/5/2024 to properly set out pleading title. (lg) (Entered: 02/05/2024)

Feb. 5, 2024

Feb. 5, 2024

3

BRIEF re 2 MOTION Consent Motion for Entry of Consent Order . (CRAWFORD, CASSANDRA) (Entered: 02/05/2024)

Feb. 5, 2024

Feb. 5, 2024

Clearinghouse
4

Consent MOTION for Entry of Consent Decree by STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA. (Attachments: # 1 Consent Order)(MCGHEE, JASMINE) (Entered: 02/05/2024)

1 Consent Order

View on PACER

Feb. 5, 2024

Feb. 5, 2024

5

MEMORANDUM re 4 Consent MOTION for Entry of Consent Decree by Plaintiff STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA. (MCGHEE, JASMINE) (Entered: 02/05/2024)

Feb. 5, 2024

Feb. 5, 2024

Clearinghouse

Case Referred to Standing Order 30

Feb. 7, 2024

Feb. 7, 2024

Case Assigned

Feb. 7, 2024

Feb. 7, 2024

Case Reassigned

Feb. 7, 2024

Feb. 7, 2024

Case ASSIGNED to UNASSIGNED and MAG/JUDGE L. PATRICK AULD. (al)

Feb. 7, 2024

Feb. 7, 2024

CASE REFERRED to Standing Order 30. (al)

Feb. 7, 2024

Feb. 7, 2024

Case Reassigned to CHIEF DISTRICT JUDGE CATHERINE C. EAGLES. UNASSIGNED no longer assigned to the case. (km)

Feb. 7, 2024

Feb. 7, 2024

Motions Submitted

Feb. 8, 2024

Feb. 8, 2024

Case Referred to Mediation

Feb. 8, 2024

Feb. 8, 2024

Motions Submitted: 2 MOTION Consent Motion for Entry of Consent Order, and 4 Consent MOTION for Entry of Consent Decree to CHIEF DISTRICT JUDGE CATHERINE C. EAGLES- (rw)

Feb. 8, 2024

Feb. 8, 2024

CASE REFERRED to Mediation pursuant to Local Rule 83.9b of the Rules of Practice and Procedure of this Court. Please go to our website under Attorney Information for a list of mediators which must be served on all parties. (al)

Feb. 8, 2024

Feb. 8, 2024

Order

Feb. 9, 2024

Feb. 9, 2024

TEXT ORDER issued by CHIEF DISTRICT JUDGE CATHERINE C. EAGLES on 2/9/24. The Court is prepared to sign the proposed consent orders upon entry of appearance by counsel for the defendant. On the circumstances here, no appearance by local counsel is required and counsel need not pay the special appearance fee, but if further proceedings become necessary these requirements may be imposed.(rw)

Feb. 9, 2024

Feb. 9, 2024

6

NOTICE of Special Appearance by attorney JAMES W. COOPER on behalf of Defendant FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF PENNSYLVANIA ( Filing fee $ 25 receipt number ANCMDC-3761919.) (COOPER, JAMES) (Entered: 02/12/2024)

Feb. 12, 2024

Feb. 12, 2024

7

CONSENT ORDER signed by CHIEF DISTRICT JUDGE CATHERINE C. EAGLES on 02/13/2024, granting 2 Motion as set out herein. (at) (Entered: 02/13/2024)

Feb. 13, 2024

Feb. 13, 2024

8

CONSENT ORDER signed by CHIEF DISTRICT JUDGE CATHERINE C. EAGLES on 02/13/2024, granting 4 Entry of Consent Decree as set out herein. (at) (Entered: 02/13/2024)

Feb. 13, 2024

Feb. 13, 2024

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Case Details

State / Territory:

North Carolina

Case Type(s):

Fair Housing/Lending/Insurance

Key Dates

Filing Date: Feb. 5, 2024

Case Ongoing: Perhaps, but long-dormant

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

The plaintiff is the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the State of North Carolina.

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

First National Bank of Pennsylvania

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:

Middle District of North Carolina 1:24-cv-00088

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff OR Mixed

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

Content of Injunction:

Comply with advertising/recruiting requirements

Discrimination Prohibition

Follow recruitment, hiring, or promotion protocols

Hire

Monitoring

Recordkeeping

Reporting

Training

Order Duration: 2024 - 2029

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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