Banks are required by law to prevent "reputational risk" through their business activities - this was introduced following HSBC's admission that between at least 2006 and 2010 the bank wilfully failed in its due diligence when allowing the electronic transfer of the proceeds of drug trafficking totalling at least $881 million. (Case 1:12-cr-00763-ILG, 2012, p.3).

In 2008 the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) issued guidance which extended the scope to the activities of the bank’s customers (Civil Action No. 14-953-TNM, 2018, p.8) - if perfectly legal business activities were deemed "objectionable" by the DoJ the Banks faces massive fines.

In January 2014, the first settlement was reached between the Department of Justice and the Four Oaks Bank in North Carolina. Four Oaks paid a $1.2m fine, despite not admitting any wrongdoing. Four Oaks was accused of ignoring federal law regarding processing payments for Internet based lending and Internet based gambling.

In 2017, the US Department of Justice, under President Trump, confirmed all legal action against law abiding businesses would cease and no further actions would be undertaken.

And on January 14, 2021 it was announced: OCC Finalizes Rule Requiring Large Banks to Provide Fair Access to Bank Services, Capital, and Credit

But after the steal

January 28, 2021 OCC Puts Hold on Fair Access Rule

The common name for it is Operation Chokepoint and this is the Law that was used to deny banking services to Laura Loomer, and Gab amongst many others.