Adult Creators Continue to Experience Debanking
Adult performers Alix Lynx and Cherie DeVille have recently spoken out about losing access to their bank accounts, bringing renewed attention to a problem our industry has faced for years.
Lynx says Chase closed her accounts without giving her a specific reason. While the bank did not tell her the decision was related to her profession, she began to suspect it after learning that other adult performers had experienced similar closures.
Her story follows Cherie DeVille’s recent report that Bank of America closed her account because of her work in adult entertainment. Bank of America has denied that her profession was the reason, saying the decision was based on account activity.
These stories are part of a much bigger problem. Adult workers and businesses routinely face account closures, denied applications and restrictions on financial services, often without warning or a clear explanation.
Debanking Continues Despite Federal Action
These closures are particularly concerning because they come after significant federal action intended to address debanking. In August 2025, President Trump issued an executive order, Guaranteeing Fair Banking for All Americans, directing federal banking regulators to identify and address policies and practices that restrict access to financial services based on lawful business activities.
Months later, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency released preliminary findings from its review of the nation’s nine largest national banks, including JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America. The OCC found that all nine had maintained policies or practices that restricted access to banking services or subjected certain customers to heightened review because of their lawful business activities. Adult entertainment was specifically identified as one of the industries affected, yet adult creators and businesses continue to report losing access to banking services. For an industry that has dealt with financial discrimination for decades, these latest cases show that government recognition of the problem has not made it disappear.
“I work in a completely legal business. I pay my taxes. I have employees. I run a company, and I, like all legal businesses, deserve access to banking just like any other law-abiding American,” DeVille said in a video discussing the closure of her Bank of America accounts.
If You’ve Been Debanked, We Want to Hear From You
If you’ve been denied an account, had one suddenly closed or experienced another form of banking discrimination, share your story with FSC. Your experiences help us document the scale of the problem and strengthen the case for change.
You may also be able to file a complaint with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. FSC can help industry members understand the complaint process and prepare the information they need to report what happened.
Building an Alternative
Fighting discriminatory banking practices is only part of the solution. FSC is also working to establish Opportunity Credit Union, a financial institution designed to serve people and businesses that traditional banks have too often shut out.
Donate to the Opportunity Credit Union fundraiser and help us create a financial institution where legal adult industry workers and businesses can access financial services without fear of discrimination.
