Banks accused of racism over AIDS test practice

PERMANENT TSB has denied that questions or conditions are imposed on the basis of race in respect of mortgage protection insurance applicants from sub-Saharan Africa.

The financial institution was responding to a prominent immigrants’ rights campaigner, Benedicta Attoh from Nigeria, who stood in last year’s council elections in Dundalk.

Ms Attoh, who eventually secured a mortgage with AIB Bank, was asked by both the AIB and Permanent TSB to be tested for the AIDS virus last year.

She believes she and her husband, who were both tested for the disease by the two lenders, were treated unfairly and is hoping a case can be brought before the Equality Tribunal.

Ms Attoh, a member of the Louth African women’s support group, accused the banks of “institutionalised racism.” She described the test requirement as “deeply humiliating” and called for an end to it immediately.

A Permanent TSB spokesperson said they did not ask questions or impose conditions on the basis of race.

“However, because of the high incidence of AIDS amongst the general populations of countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, the company would normally request people who have spent a reasonable amount of time in those countries in recent years to undertake an AIDS test - paid for by the company - to confirm that they do not carry the HIV infection before offering life assurance cover.”

He said the requests were no different than the practice of insurance companies asking all applicants about their medical history.