South Carolina Enacts Law Blocking “Debanking” Over Religious, Political Views
July 6, 2026
South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster has signed a new law aimed at preventing major financial institutions from denying services to customers because of their religious or political beliefs.
Christianity Daily reports that “Guarantee Banking Act” law, which is set to take effect at the beginning of the new year, bars financial institutions from actions that “discriminate in the provision of financial services to a person.”
The measure also prohibits adverse action based on a customer’s “speech, expression, opinions, expressive activity, or association that is protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, federal law, or the Constitution or laws of [South Carolina].”
Prohibited actions include shutting down checking or savings accounts, cutting off money transfers, or ending access to loans and credit cards.
The legislation states that customers who are denied “full and equal access in the provision of covered financial services” may request a written explanation within 90 days of the adverse action.
Under the new law, financial institutions are then required to respond within 30 days.
According to Christianity Daily, the new restrictions apply to banks with more than $100 billion in total assets, along with credit card companies and payment processing platforms.
Alliance Defending Freedom ADF Senior Counsel Matt Sharp said, “No one should be denied access to basic financial services based on their political or religious beliefs,” following Gov. McMaster’s signing of the bill.
Sharp added, “But when big banks weaponize their control of financial services to punish those with disfavored or unpopular views, they are just as threatening to freedom as Big Brother. By enacting this bill, South Carolina joins Tennessee and Idaho in leading the charge to protect citizens, nonprofits, religious organizations and businesses from discriminatory debanking.”
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