Black architect, 37, is humiliated by Seattle bank who refused to believe her check was real

  • A black female architect says feels she was discriminated against when a bank in Washington wanted to verify that her paycheck was real
  • Trish Doolin, 37, just moved to Seattle a few weeks ago and was given a regular check to cash instead of direct deposit
  • After paying the check in, she was called back to the branch whereupon she was interrogated by bank staff about the payment 
  • The bank told her because the account had not been open for 30 days, they would have to hold onto her paycheck for a further nine days

By Dailymail.com Reporter

Published: 10:16 EST, 8 October 2016 | Updated: 15:11 EST, 8 October 2016

A woman from Seattle was humiliated by a bank clerk after refusing to believe that a check she was depositing was real.

Trish Doolin, 37, a black architect, recently moved to take a job with Nelson, Inc., based in the city.

It being her first week of work with the firm, her direct deposit had not yet been set up for her to receive her salary, so she took a regular check to a branch of Key Bank.

Trish Doolin, 37, began working as an architect in Seattle in September. When she tried to cash her paycheck, a teller called her into his office to question the validity of her deposit

Trish Doolin, 37, began working as an architect in Seattle in September. When she tried to cash her paycheck, a teller called her into his office to question the validity of her deposit

However, according to  Black Entertainment Television (BET), hours after depositing the check in person, Ms Doolin received a call from the bank asking her to return at once.  

When she arrived at the branch, a manager took her aside to a cubicle and began to ask her a series of intrusive questions.

'He asked my profession, and then asked why the company's headquarters were in Philadelphia,' Doolin said. 'Then he asked if HR could verify that I was an employee there.'

The bank did not ask for any ID from Ms. Doolin, yet Key Bank told her that she would have to wait as long as nine days while they 'verified the funds.'

I was, I knew I was being discriminated against,” Doolin said.  “It was just completely demeaning”

I was, I knew I was being discriminated against,' Doolin said.  'It was just completely demeaning'

'When I realized that I was defending who I was, trying to prove to someone who didn't know who I was, I knew I was being discriminated against,' Doolin told BuzzFeed. 'It was just completely demeaning.'

A short time later, Doolin called the bank on the phone to try and understand why she had been questioned in the manner she had.

The bank told her that they would have done the same to any customer and the branch agreed to release the funds into her account.

'I live in a world where, no matter what's in my brain or purse, no matter how I wear my hair, no matter how fabulous I look when I walk out the door, I'm still black,' she said to BuzzFeed. 'People still clutch their purses when I walk past.'

Doolin, who is training to become a licensed architect is planning to switch banks this weekend, but hasn’t talked to her employer about her experience at KeyBank just yet

Doolin, who is training to become a licensed architect is planning to switch banks this weekend, but hasn't talked to her employer about her experience at KeyBank just yet

Key Bank has released a statement saying the company 'values diversity' and does not 'tolerate discrimination'. 

The company also stated that customers that are new to the bank may experience a longer hold period on their deposits for the first 30 days that their accounts are open. 

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