Banks have the ability to debank customers at a moment’s notice. Canada successfully weaponized its banks against the people during the Trucker Convoy, a peaceful protest demanding the right to bodily autonomy during the COVID-19 vaccine mandates. Lawyer Eva Chipiuk, who represented the Trucker (Freedom) Convoy, received notice from the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) that her bank account is being terminated without proper explanation.
RBC told Chipiuk that “recent activity was outside of RBC’s client risk appetite,” and the bank would “no longer be in a position to continue serving her.” Without further explanation, RBC informed her that she has mere weeks to find an alternative bank.
“The last interaction I had with RBC before they closed my account was when they froze it after I transferred some money to purchase bitcoin,” Chipiuk told the Western Standard. “I called them to confirm the transaction was legitimate.” The bank’s fraud department then interrogated her with what she felt were “demeaning questions” before clearing the account and warning her to “be careful with crypto.”
Eva Chipiuk did not commit a crime. She was not accused of a crime or any type of offense. Yet, RBC claimed it was “required by law to comply with applicable legislation.” The law in question has not been clarified. IS RBC threatened by Chipiuk’s connections to the Trucker Convoy or is the bank suspicious of her withdrawal to purchase bitcoin? Neither situation is a criminal offense, and yet, the bank has total authority to debank her without reason.
