UK retail bank Barclays has been criticized by a Down's Syndrome charity after refusing to open a joint bank account for a student whom branch staff judged "mentally incompetent".
A branch of Barclays in Ipswich, southeast England, told Wendy Rusher that she could not open an account with her 18-year-old daughter Charlotte because of the latter’s Down’s Syndrome. Mrs Rusher said that she was absolutely horrified by the decision and took her complaint to a local newspaper.
Marie Benton, of the Down’s Syndrome Association, said: This case is appalling. Essentially, an adult with learning difficulties has exactly the same right as everybody else and we should not be hearing of cases like this.
Barclays has apologized and offered Mrs Rusher GBP100 to be paid into her account. A spokesman for Barclays said: When our staff were dealing with this application they misinterpreted disability guidelines. We have clarified our procedures with staff and they are now knowledgeable on how to take this situation forward.