The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued warnings to Mastercard, Visa, PayPal, and Stripe against denying customers access to financial services based on political or religious views, citing a recent executive order from President Trump targeting so-called “debanking.” FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson said that removing customers or restricting access in ways inconsistent with company policies could trigger investigations and enforcement under consumer protection laws, with particular scrutiny on allegations that some platforms have excluded users for ideological reasons. The move forms part of a broader push by the administration to address claims of discrimination within the financial system, though the companies have not publicly responded to the warnings.
