EMPLOYMENT LAW: Bank of the West Settles Sex Discrimination Lawsuit

July 27, 2011

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma- Bank of the West has agreed to pay $48,000 as settlement for a sex discrimination lawsuit filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), a statement from the agency website said.

According to reports, the Bank of the West has declined employment opportunity to a qualified female applicant because of her gender. The Oklahoma City woman was applying for the position of branch manager at Quail Creek branch, but was denied after requesting two weeks of child care arrangement.

The woman found out that a male applicant was instead hired though she was more qualified. The Bank of the West also granted his request of two-week child care arrangement. She then filed a sex discrimination lawsuit with EEOC, reports said.

The EEOC then filed the lawsuit at US District Court in Oklahoma. The Bank of the West entered a conciliation process with the federal agency and agreed to give $48,000 to the woman as settlement. The employer also agreed to post anti-discrimination policies, conduct training to employees, and report similar cases.

The Bank of the West is considered one of the largest banks in United States. It has more than $76 billion assets and has more than 735 branches locally and abroad. It currently employs more than 200,000 employees.