Banks won't take Fort Hood shooting suspect's paychecks

BELTON, Texas — As he sits in the Bell County Jail, accused in the Nov. 5 Fort Hood shootings that left 13 dead, Maj. Nidal Hasan continues to receive his monthly U.S. Army paycheck; based on his rank and experience, it is probably more than $6,000.

That's standard procedure for soldiers confined before military trial, Army officials said.

But Hasan, who is charged with 13 counts of murder in the attack, is not a standard defendant. And he's having a hard time finding a bank to take his money.

According to his civilian attorney John Galligan, Bank of America notified Hasan last month that it was closing his account and no area bank has agreed to open an account for the Army psychiatrist. Military regulations require soldiers to be paid through direct deposit, making a bank account indispensable.

"I think it's just another example of the prejudice that he's been exposed to," Galligan said. "It's money that he's entitled to, that he has a right to."

But Hasan shouldn't miss a paycheck. Army regulations allow commanders to grant waivers exempting soldiers from the direct-deposit system. Galligan said he is working with Fort Hood officials on finding a solution.

Galligan said he and his staff have tried to open accounts in Hasan's name at half a dozen banks but were turned down at each one. He was especially angry that Fort Hood National Bank also refused, he said.

"In its unique position as the one major bank on post, with access to all of the soldiers, they turned us down too," Galligan said. "Well, give me a break. How many other people pending a court-martial, still presumed to be innocent, does the bank say, 'Hey, we're not going to do business with you'?"

A Bank of America spokeswoman declined to comment, and officials with Fort Hood National Bank did not return a call for comment. Experts say banks have the right to choose their clients as long as they do not discriminate against a class of people.

"As far as deciding who to do business with or not, they (banks) have discretion," said Shannon Phillips, deputy general counsel with the Independent Bankers Association of Texas.

Galligan said Hasan has a car payment, legal fees and obligations to relatives. Hasan's pretrial Article 32 hearing, which is similar to a grand-jury hearing in the civilian judicial system, is scheduled to begin in October.