BofA to Pay $72.5 Million to Settle Epstein Victim Lawsuit

Bank of America has agreed to pay about $72.5 million to settle a class-action lawsuit filed by Jeffrey Epstein victims who alleged the bank helped facilitate his sex‑trafficking operation by providing banking services despite red flags.

Core facts

• Settlement amount: Bank of America will pay $72.5 million, subject to court approval in federal court in New York.

• Nature of case: The class action was brought on behalf of Epstein victims who claimed the bank knowingly enabled or ignored suspicious activity tied to sex trafficking while handling Epstein‑linked accounts.

• Timeframe and accounts: Plaintiffs allege abuse occurred between roughly 2011 and 2019 and involved accounts at Bank of America used by Epstein and associates, including entities tied to Ghislaine Maxwell and others.

• Liability stance: Bank of America denies wrongdoing and says it did not knowingly support Epstein’s crimes but chose to settle to avoid prolonged litigation and “put this matter behind” the bank.

• Context with other banks: This comes after earlier Epstein‑related settlements with JPMorgan and Deutsche Bank, which together paid hundreds of millions of dollars to resolve similar allegations from victims.

How the money is expected to be used

• The $72.5 million is to be distributed among a defined class of Epstein survivors under a court‑supervised settlement process, with allocations based on factors such as severity and duration of abuse and timing of victimization.

• Plaintiffs’ attorneys will seek fees from the fund, subject to judicial review; net distributions to victims will depend on those fee awards and any administrative costs.

Alleged conduct and legal theory

• Plaintiffs claim Bank of America had “an abundance of information” indicating that accounts were being used to facilitate sex trafficking yet continued to service them for profit.

• The complaint cites large, atypical cash movements, payments to young women, and transactions involving Epstein‑connected figures (including accounts linked to financier Leon Black) as red‑flag activity the bank allegedly ignored.

• Legal theories include claims under federal anti‑sex‑trafficking statutes and related state law, arguing the bank “knowingly benefited” by providing financial services that substantially assisted Epstein’s trafficking enterprise.

Next steps in the case

• The settlement has been filed in court and must be approved by a federal judge after notice to the class and a fairness hearing.

• If approved, a claims process will open and eligible survivors will submit documentation or sworn statements to qualify for payment from the fund.

• The resolution does not preclude regulatory scrutiny, but there is no indication yet of new enforcement actions specifically tied to this settlement.