NEWBERRY, Fla.— CAMPUS USA Credit Union here has petitioned a Florida court to throw out a $90-million lawsuit filed by three members who claim they were denied fair treatment in the loan process due to their race, sex, and national origin.
In August, three family members—Chidozie Okike and relatives Renda and Amanda—filed a $90-million lawsuit against CAMPUS USA in Florida’s Eighth Judicial Circuit, accusing the $3.7-billion institution of racial, sex, and national origin discrimination, negligence, defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and unfair lending practices, BlackNews.com reported.
The dispute stems from a March 30, 2024, visit to the credit union’s Newberry branch, where the plaintiffs say they were unlawfully denied a personal loan and subjected to humiliating treatment. The complaint also alleges that employees made false statements to police, prompting an unwarranted welfare check at the family’s home that later complicated Okike’s parental rights in an ongoing custody case, BlackNews.com said.
BlackNews.com reported that court filings note that the Alachua County Equal Opportunity Office investigated the matter and, in March 2025, issued a Final Investigative Summary finding “reasonable cause” to believe the credit union violated the county’s Human Rights Ordinance. Investigators cited inconsistent explanations for the loan denial and concluded that a racially biased call to law enforcement supported an inference of disparate treatment, BlackNews.com explained.
The plaintiffs argue the incident caused severe emotional distress, reputational harm, and financial losses, including reliance on higher-interest credit. They also allege the credit union’s statements were later weaponized in family court proceedings, BlackNews.com said.
Relief sought in the suit includes:
- $90 million in compensatory, punitive, and reputational damages
- Damages tied to interference with child custody proceedings
- Additional remedies as determined by the court
“Campus USA’s actions have devastated our family, harmed our reputations, and created long-lasting emotional trauma,” said the plaintiffs in a joint statement, according to BlackNews.com. “We are seeking justice not just for ourselves, but to ensure that no other family is subjected to discriminatory treatment when seeking basic financial services.”