Bank of America agreed to pay $72.5 million to settle a class action brought by survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s sex-trafficking operation, resolving claims that the bank ignored warning signs on accounts used to fund abuse. The deal was disclosed in a federal court filing on March 27, 2026, and U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff granted preliminary approval on April 2, 2026, with a final approval hearing set for August 27, 2026.1The New York Times. Bank of America Epstein Victims Settlement2Reuters. Bank of Americas $72.5 Million Settlement With Epstein Accusers Wins Preliminary Approval The bank denies wrongdoing.
Who Can File a Claim
The settlement class covers all women who were sexually abused or trafficked by Epstein, or by anyone connected to his operation, between June 30, 2008, and July 6, 2019. Plaintiffs’ lawyers estimated that between 60 and 75 survivors would file claims against the fund.3NBC News. Bank of America Agrees To Pay $72 Million Epstein Survivors2Reuters. Bank of Americas $72.5 Million Settlement With Epstein Accusers Wins Preliminary Approval
Payments to individual claimants will not be finalized before Judge Rakoff rules on final approval at the August 27, 2026 hearing.2Reuters. Bank of Americas $72.5 Million Settlement With Epstein Accusers Wins Preliminary Approval
What the Lawsuit Alleged
The case, Doe v. Bank of America, No. 1:25-cv-08520, was filed October 15, 2025, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.4Courthouse News Service. Bank of America Epstein Sex Trafficking Class Action Complaint The complaint accused the bank of knowingly profiting from Epstein’s trafficking enterprise by providing banking and investment services to him and his associates while ignoring signs that accounts were being used to fund abuse.5CBS News. Bank of America Reaches $72 Million Settlement Epstein Lawsuit
A central allegation involved $170 million that Apollo Global Management co-founder Leon Black transferred to Epstein through a Bank of America account, described at the time as payment for tax and estate planning advice. Plaintiffs contended the transfers actually helped fund Epstein’s operation and that the bank did not scrutinize them.3NBC News. Bank of America Agrees To Pay $72 Million Epstein Survivors Plaintiffs also alleged the bank waited until after Epstein’s death in August 2019 to file suspicious activity reports on his accounts, despite years of unusual transactions.5CBS News. Bank of America Reaches $72 Million Settlement Epstein Lawsuit
The lead plaintiff was represented by David Boies and Sigrid McCawley of Boies Schiller Flexner and Brad Edwards and Brittany Henderson of Edwards Henderson.6CNBC. Jeffrey Epstein Bank of America Lawsuit Settle
What Survived Dismissal
On January 29, 2026, Judge Rakoff dismissed four of the six claims against Bank of America, including allegations that it violated anti-money-laundering and know-your-customer regulations. In the same ruling, he dismissed all claims against Bank of New York Mellon, which had been named in a related case.7Banking Dive. Bank of America Epstein Case Rakoff BofA
Two claims survived and framed the settlement that followed. Rakoff let plaintiffs proceed on the theory that Bank of America was a knowing beneficiary of Epstein’s sex-trafficking venture, and that it obstructed federal trafficking enforcement by deliberately failing to file suspicious activity reports on time. In his opinion, the judge wrote that the bank had “every reason to know” that the lead plaintiff had no ability to earn income in the United States and that Epstein was a convicted sex offender. Large transfers moving through an account owned by a young woman with no money “was surely enough to arouse suspicions and require inquiries, none of which Bank of America undertook,” Rakoff wrote.7Banking Dive. Bank of America Epstein Case Rakoff BofA
Rakoff also noted allegations that a bank employee who had previously managed Epstein’s money at JPMorgan Chase and Deutsche Bank held “direct personal knowledge” of the trafficking operation.7Banking Dive. Bank of America Epstein Case Rakoff BofA
Settlement Terms and Attorney Fees
Bank of America will pay $72.5 million into a fund for survivors. The agreement includes no admission of wrongdoing. In a statement, the bank said that while it “did not facilitate sex trafficking crimes,” the resolution allows it to “put this matter behind us and provides further closure for the plaintiffs.”8BBC. Bank of America Epstein Settlement
Plaintiffs’ attorneys may seek up to 30% of the fund, roughly $21.8 million, in legal fees. That request will be considered at the final approval hearing.2Reuters. Bank of Americas $72.5 Million Settlement With Epstein Accusers Wins Preliminary Approval
Where This Fits With the Other Bank Deals
Bank of America is the third major financial institution to settle with Epstein’s victims. JPMorgan Chase, Epstein’s primary bank for roughly 15 years, paid $290 million in a settlement approved by Judge Rakoff in November 2023. That deal covered more than 200 women.9Bloomberg Law. JPMorgans $290 Million Epstein Victims Pact Challenged by AGs Deutsche Bank settled for $75 million in 2023 and, unlike the other banks, acknowledged its “error onboarding Epstein in 2013” and “weaknesses in our processes.”6CNBC. Jeffrey Epstein Bank of America Lawsuit Settle
The three bank settlements together total roughly $437.5 million. Separately, a compensation fund established by the Epstein estate paid out about $121 million to roughly 150 victims before concluding operations.10NBC News. Jeffrey Epstein Victims Fund Paid Out $121 Million About 150 A second, smaller class-action settlement with the estate for up to $35 million was reported as pending in early 2026.11CNN. Epstein Estate Settlement Victims
Final approval remains the last step. If Judge Rakoff signs off in August 2026, payments to eligible survivors can be distributed from the fund.