NEW: Bank of America To Pay $72.5 Million To Epstein Victims Ahead Of Proposed Lawsuit

Bank of America Corp. has agreed to pay $72.5 million to resolve a proposed class-action lawsuit filed by women who accused the bank of facilitating their sexual abuse at the hands of notorious sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.

The case, which was filed in October by a plaintiff identified as Jane Doe, alleged that the bank ignored suspicious financial transactions linked to Epstein’s activities despite available information about his crimes. The complaint claimed the bank “knowingly benefited” from Epstein’s sex trafficking and obstructed enforcement of the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Act by prioritizing profit.

Specific allegations included the bank’s handling of payments from Apollo Global Management co-founder Leon Black, who paid Epstein approximately $158 million for tax and estate planning advice through a Bank of America account. Court filings described these as large wire transfers, often in $10 million or $20 million installments, that the bank allegedly failed to scrutinize or report as suspicious activity.

Bank of America has maintained that it did not facilitate sex trafficking and that the claims were without merit. In a November 2025 court filing, the bank stated that the lawsuit was based on accusations that it “provided routine services to customers who at the time had no known connection to Epstein’s sex trafficking.”

A spokesperson for the bank issued a separate statement following the settlement announcement. “While we stand by our prior statements made in the filings in this case, including that Bank of America did not facilitate sex trafficking crimes, this resolution allows us to put this matter behind us and provides further closure for the plaintiffs,” the spokesperson said.

The settlement does not include any admission of liability or wrongdoing by the bank. Attorneys for the plaintiffs, David Boies and Bradley Edwards, described the agreement as the best option “given that many Class Members suffered harm many years ago and are in need of financial relief now.” The lawyers may seek court approval to receive up to 30 percent of the settlement amount, or approximately $21.8 million, for legal fees.

The agreement follows similar resolutions reached by other financial institutions in lawsuits filed by Epstein’s accusers. In 2023, JPMorgan Chase & Co. agreed to pay $290 million, and Deutsche Bank agreed to pay $75 million. Bank of America’s settlement amount is lower than both prior deals.

The plaintiffs’ legal team has also pursued related claims against other banks, including an ongoing appeal of a dismissal involving Bank of New York Mellon.

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