Bank Teller Rips Up Black CEO’s Check — Next Day, the Bank Nearly Collapses

DOWNTOWN, August 1, 2025 — What began as a routine business deposit turned into a viral scandal that nearly toppled a regional financial institution. A bank teller at Horizon First Bank reportedly tore up a legitimate check presented by Andre Fuller, a Black tech CEO, sparking public outrage, mass account closures, and an emergency financial intervention.

A Routine Visit Turns Ugly

On Tuesday afternoon, Andre Fuller, CEO of the cybersecurity company Nexus Cyber, walked into Horizon First Bank’s downtown branch to deposit a $275,000 certified check. Fuller, whose firm works with government and Fortune 500 clients, presented valid identification, his business account information, and the check itself.

According to Fuller, the teller — later identified as Amanda Kessler — questioned the check’s validity and ultimately returned to the counter with it ripped in two.

“I stood there stunned,” Fuller said in a LinkedIn post that later went viral. “She didn’t call to verify it. She didn’t contact a manager. She simply decided it was fake and destroyed it.”

Despite his protests, Fuller says he was given no further assistance or apology. No manager addressed the issue before he left the bank.

Viral Backlash and Corporate Fallout

Fuller’s account of the incident spread quickly online. Within 24 hours, his post had garnered millions of views across LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram. Hashtags like #BankingWhileBlack and #HorizonFirst trended nationally, while screenshots of past racially insensitive posts allegedly linked to Kessler surfaced and circulated widely.

The response was swift. Multiple clients — including large nonprofits and tech firms — announced they were severing ties with the bank. Several institutional investors also began pulling funds. Long lines of customers formed at branches, many requesting to close their accounts, citing concerns over discrimination and trust.

By Wednesday evening, Horizon First’s leadership issued a formal statement:

“We sincerely apologize to Mr. Fuller and to all of our customers. The employee involved has been terminated. We are conducting a full internal investigation and reviewing our training protocols.”

But the damage had already been done.

Financial Instability and Internal Revelations

On Thursday morning, Horizon First Bank’s stock dropped 12%, its sharpest one-day decline in years. Behind closed doors, board members scrambled to address the crisis. A leaked internal memo revealed prior complaints about racial profiling and bias at the same branch — many of which, sources say, went unresolved.

A whistleblower, a former branch manager, told local news that concerns over discriminatory practices had been “systematically ignored” by upper management. Further reports confirmed that the bank’s regional diversity officer resigned just two weeks prior to the incident.

By Thursday night, the bank’s liquidity position had worsened. Federal regulators began monitoring the situation. Customers continued to withdraw funds, creating what some experts called “a modern-day bank run, driven by social media.”

An emergency capital injection of $200 million by a private equity firm late Friday saved the bank from immediate collapse, but Horizon First’s reputation was left in tatters.

The CEO Responds

While Horizon First scrambled, Andre Fuller took a calm but firm public stance. At a press conference on Thursday, he emphasized that his experience reflected systemic issues, not isolated mistakes.

“This wasn’t just about one check,” he told reporters. “It’s about a Black business leader being treated as a fraud simply for walking into a bank with money. That mindset isn’t just offensive — it’s dangerous.”

Fuller confirmed that Nexus Cyber had since moved its accounts to a national bank. He also revealed plans to support policy efforts aimed at reducing discriminatory banking practices.

Broader Implications

Civil rights groups, including the NAACP and National Urban League, quickly mobilized. A class-action lawsuit is reportedly in development, and congressional leaders have called for hearings on discriminatory practices in financial institutions. Several banking watchdogs have also begun independent audits of regional banks.

“This case is a turning point,” said Mariah Thompson, a financial equity advocate with the nonprofit Banking Access Now. “It shows how unchecked bias at even one counter can trigger institutional collapse.”

A Cautionary Tale

Though Horizon First Bank survived the initial fallout, experts say rebuilding public trust could take years. The bank has pledged sweeping changes, including mandatory anti-bias training and third-party oversight.

As for Amanda Kessler, she has retained legal representation and issued a brief statement expressing remorse. But public sentiment remains strongly against her, with many calling for broader accountability within the institution that hired and enabled her.

Andre Fuller, meanwhile, has become an outspoken voice for fairness in finance. His experience is now used in corporate training programs, university ethics courses, and even internal reviews at other banks.

“This wasn’t about me being rich or poor,” Fuller said in a follow-up interview with CNN. “It was about whether someone who looks like me is ever seen as legitimate. That question still hasn’t been answered — but now the world is watching.”