Bank sued for alleged gender discrimination

A Sentinel-based bank accused of discriminating against female employees and firing a longtime worker for complaining about the practice is being sued by a federal agency.

Tuesday, July 1st 2008, 9:13 pm

By: News 9

Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - A Sentinel-based bank accused of discriminating against female employees and firing a longtime worker for complaining about the practice is being sued by a federal agency.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on Tuesday filed a gender discrimination suit against Southwest State Bank.

The suit claims male officers at the bank were given cash compensation each month to entertain clients, while female officers were denied the compensation.

The suit alleges that when a 30-year veteran female officer asked that the issue be taken to the bank's board, she was fired.

A message left Tuesday with the bank's president was not immediately returned.