Model and self-proclaimed “human barbie doll” Jessica Alves says her bank account has been terminated because she’s on OnlyFans.
Alves says she received an account closure notice from Barclays in the mail and promptly went to a branch in London to figure out what happened, reports the Daily Mail.
“I have banked with Barclays for 22 years and I was told I can’t bank with them anymore because I’m considered a sex worker. I explained that I’m not and that my income comes from my rental properties, TV shows, and brand endorsements.
My OnlyFans is purely a fan page where fans have direct access to me. There are some Page 3-style and sensual images but no sex acts or pornography.”
Barclays has issued a generic statement on its decision to shutter the account.
“We will only close a customer’s account after careful thought and in line with our product terms and conditions, including where we believe that keeping the account open may cause us to breach laws or regulations, some of which are to prevent financial crime.
We do not take this decision lightly, understanding the difficulties that having banking services withdrawn can cause.”
The closure highlights broader concerns about banks terminating accounts of individuals in the adult industry, an issue that’s gained attention following various debanking cases, including that of politician Nigel Farage.
Back in February, a parliamentary committee reported over 140,000 business accounts in Britain were shut down by major banks in a span of one year, and the Financial Conduct Authority is conducting an ongoing review to determine whether such closures are legal and fair.
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