Ex Offenders

I met an ex offender today who needed help. He managed to find employment and his employer wanted to pay his salary into a bank account. He opened an account but almost immediately, the bank closed it without providing any reasons. Presumably they found out he is an ex offender.

It’s sad that for an ex offender, so many doors are closed to them. Despite all the talk about rehabilitation,they have difficulties finding employment and being accepted by family, friends and society. They are of course cases where if a bank opens an account for them, they are misused accounts and some for criminal purposes. But having a bank account is critical in today’s life? With everything going cashless how are they going to live and pay for things in today’s world?

I do hope that banks take a sympathetic case by case approach to help them on their path to rehabilitation.

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