--- title: "Report finds lack of recourse for groups de-banked over terror financing fears" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/report-finds-lack-of-recourse-for-groups-de-banked-over-terror-financing-fears" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/report-finds-lack-of-recourse-for-groups-de-banked-over-terror-financing-fears" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/report-finds-lack-of-recourse-for-groups-de-banked-over-terror-financing-fears.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/report-finds-lack-of-recourse-for-groups-de-banked-over-terror-financing-fears" category: "Politics" area: "United States" published: "2026-09-15T12:25:15.315Z" source_reported: "2026-09-15T09:43:40.805Z" updated: "2026-09-15T12:25:15.315Z" trust_score: 42 critic_score: 59 hype_score: 20 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-09-15T14:45:11.026215+00:00" --- # Report finds lack of recourse for groups de-banked over terror financing fears *International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group says Canadian financial institutions lack accountability for account closures.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 42 of 100, higher is better. The central claim is attributed to a named body, and the report is corroborated by multiple independent outlets. - Craft 59 of 100, higher is better. The report is clearly written, factually separate from comment, and names specific details. - Hype 20 of 100, lower is better. The language is measured and proportionate, with no sensationalism or clickbait. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Non-profit organizations and individuals in Canada face a near-total absence of effective recourse when their banking services are terminated due to alleged links to terrorist financing, according to a new report. - The International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group's report examines the practice of 'derisking' or 'de-banking,' where financial institutions end services to clients or sectors to avoid perceived risks. - Organizations active in Muslim communities or those conducting humanitarian work abroad are disproportionately affected by these account closures. - Financial institutions in Canada are not legally obligated to provide specific reasons for account closures, and no independent body reviews the reasonableness or non-discrimination of these decisions. A new report states there is a near-total absence of effective recourse for non-profit organizations and individuals whose banking services are cut off due to alleged ties to terrorist financing. The International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group report examines the phenomenon of derisking or de-banking, which involves ending or restricting access to financial services for clients or sectors to avoid perceived risks. The report, compiled by a group of dozens of non-governmental organizations, unions, and advocates, asserts that a lack of case-specific and evidence-based decision-making by banks has led to unjustified and discriminatory outcomes. The report argues that the derisking of organizations, particularly those active in Muslim communities or carrying out humanitarian activities abroad, is a predictable outcome of Canada's anti-money laundering and anti-terrorist financing framework. Charities and advocacy groups report service denials that appear to be based on risk avoidance rather than individual assessment, raising concerns about discrimination and profiling. Tim McSorley, the monitoring group's national coordinator, stated that while financial crime must be addressed, organizations without extremist involvement face penalties due to overly broad anti-terror financing laws. This situation cuts off millions of dollars intended for life-saving aid and international development. Consequences of derisking include abrupt account closures, exclusion from payment processors, disruption to humanitarian programs, and reputational harm. The report notes that financial institutions are not legally required to provide a specific reason for closing an account. Furthermore, no independent body in Canada has the mandate to review whether a derisking decision was reasonable, non-discriminatory, or evidence-based, and no authority systematically collects data on the scale of derisking. The report makes a dozen recommendations to the federal government and financial bodies, calling for structural reform, transparency, and accountability mechanisms. ## Disagreements in reporting All 24 reports agree that a new report states there is a near-total absence of effective recourse for non-profit organizations and individuals whose banking services are cut off due to alleged ties to terrorist financing. All reports also agree that the International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group report examines the phenomenon of derisking or de-banking. The digests do not provide enough detail to establish specific disagreements on other facts. ## What the coverage left out None of the 24 reports printed below mention the specific recommendations made by the International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group to the federal government, supervisory bodies, financial institutions, and payment processors. The digests do not provide details on the dozen recommendations the full report contains. ## Who covered it Shares of the 20 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 70% (14) - Centre: 30% (6) - Right: 0% (0) 5 of 25 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-09-15T14:45:11.026215+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 13 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-09-15T15:30:08.507Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - The 14 left-rated reports led on the finding that there is a near-total absence of effective recourse for non-profit organizations and individuals whose banking services are cut off due to alleged ties to terrorist financing. These reports highlighted that organizations active in Muslim communities or carrying out humanitarian activities abroad are particularly affected by derisking. They also noted that financial institutions are not legally required to provide a specific reason for closing an account and that no independent body in Canada has the mandate to review whether a derisking decision was reasonable, non-discriminatory, or evidence-based. The reports mentioned the International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group and its examination of derisking and de-banking. ### Centre - The seven centre-rated reports led on the finding that there is a "near-total absence" of effective recourse for non-profit organizations and individuals whose banking services are cut off due to alleged ties to terrorist financing. These reports also mentioned the International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group report and its examination of derisking or de-banking. They noted that organizations active in Muslim communities or carrying out humanitarian activities abroad are particularly affected. The centre-rated reports also stated that financial institutions are not legally required to provide a specific reason for closing an account and that no independent body in Canada has the mandate to review whether a derisking decision was reasonable, non-discriminatory, or evidence-based. ### Right No separate framing summary. **Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - high: 12 - unknown: 5 - veryHigh: 8 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [CTV News](https://ctvnews.ca/canada/article/action-needed-to-ensure-groups-arent-unduly-de-banked-over-terror-risks-report) — Action needed to ensure groups aren't unduly 'de-banked' over terror risks: report - [National Observer](https://nationalobserver.com/2026/09/15/news/action-needed-ensure-groups-arent-unduly-de-banked-over-terror-risks-says-report) — Action needed to ensure groups aren't unduly 'de-banked' over terror risks, says report - [meadowlakeNOW](https://meadowlakenow.com/2026/09/15/action-needed-to-ensure-groups-arent-unduly-de-banked-over-terror-risks-report) — Action needed to ensure groups aren’t unduly ‘de-banked’ over terror risks: report - [CFJC Today Kamloops](https://cfjctoday.com/2026/09/15/action-needed-to-ensure-groups-arent-unduly-de-banked-over-terror-risks-report) — Action needed to ensure groups aren’t unduly ‘de-banked’ over terror risks: report - [Ckpg Today](https://ckpgtoday.ca/2026/09/15/action-needed-to-ensure-groups-arent-unduly-de-banked-over-terror-risks-report) — Action needed to ensure groups aren’t unduly ‘de-banked’ over terror risks: report - [Battlefords NOW](https://battlefordsnow.com/2026/09/15/action-needed-to-ensure-groups-arent-unduly-de-banked-over-terror-risks-report) — Action needed to ensure groups aren’t unduly ‘de-banked’ over terror risks: report - [Narcity](https://narcity.com/terror-concerns-prompt-unfair-de-banking-report) — Action needed to ensure groups aren't unduly 'de-banked' over terror risks: report - [The Toronto Star](https://thestar.com/politics/federal/action-needed-to-ensure-groups-aren-t-unduly-de-banked-over-terror-risks-report/article_e1899df4-98f2-5534-a96b-32924f3effb7.html) — Action needed to ensure groups aren’t unduly ‘de-banked’ over terror risks: report - [Rocky Mountain Outlook](https://rmoutlook.com/national-business/action-needed-to-ensure-groups-arent-unduly-de-banked-over-terror-risks-report-12778983) — Action needed to ensure groups aren't unduly 'de-banked' over terror risks: report - [SooToday.com](https://sootoday.com/national-news/action-needed-to-ensure-groups-arent-unduly-de-banked-over-terror-risks-report-12779001) — Action needed to ensure groups aren't unduly 'de-banked' over terror risks: report - [Airdrie City View](https://airdriecityview.com/national-business/action-needed-to-ensure-groups-arent-unduly-de-banked-over-terror-risks-report-12778983) — Action needed to ensure groups aren't unduly 'de-banked' over terror risks: report - [Orillia Matters](https://orilliamatters.com/national-news/action-needed-to-ensure-groups-arent-unduly-de-banked-over-terror-risks-report-12779001) — Action needed to ensure groups aren't unduly 'de-banked' over terror risks: report - [Collingwood Today](https://collingwoodtoday.ca/national-news/action-needed-to-ensure-groups-arent-unduly-de-banked-over-terror-risks-report-12779001) — Action needed to ensure groups aren't unduly 'de-banked' over terror risks: report - [Thorold Today](https://thoroldtoday.ca/national-news/action-needed-to-ensure-groups-arent-unduly-de-banked-over-terror-risks-report-12779001) — Action needed to ensure groups aren't unduly 'de-banked' over terror risks: report - [Elora Fergus Today](https://elorafergustoday.com/national-news/action-needed-to-ensure-groups-arent-unduly-de-banked-over-terror-risks-report-12779001) — Action needed to ensure groups aren't unduly 'de-banked' over terror risks: report - [Bowen Island Undercurrent](https://bowenislandundercurrent.com/national-news/action-needed-to-ensure-groups-arent-unduly-de-banked-over-terror-risks-report-12779007) — Action needed to ensure groups aren't unduly 'de-banked' over terror risks: report - [Sudbury](https://sudbury.com/national/action-needed-to-ensure-groups-arent-unduly-de-banked-over-terror-risks-report-12779001) — Action needed to ensure groups aren't unduly 'de-banked' over terror risks: report - [Bay Today](https://baytoday.ca/national-news/action-needed-to-ensure-groups-arent-unduly-de-banked-over-terror-risks-report-12779001) — Action needed to ensure groups aren't unduly 'de-banked' over terror risks: report - [Medicine Hat News](https://medicinehatnews.com/news/national-news/2026/09/15/action-needed-to-ensure-groups-arent-unduly-de-banked-over-terror-risks-report) — Action needed to ensure groups aren't unduly 'de-banked' over terror risks: report - [Loonie Politics](https://looniepolitics.com/action-needed-to-ensure-groups-arent-unduly-de-banked-over-terror-risks-report) — Action needed to ensure groups aren’t unduly ‘de-banked’ over terror risks: report - [Bradford Today](https://bradfordtoday.ca/national-news/action-needed-to-ensure-groups-arent-unduly-de-banked-over-terror-risks-report-12779001) — Action needed to ensure groups aren't unduly 'de-banked' over terror risks: report - [Timmins Today](https://timminstoday.com/national-news/action-needed-to-ensure-groups-arent-unduly-de-banked-over-terror-risks-report-12779001) — Action needed to ensure groups aren't unduly 'de-banked' over terror risks: report - [burlingtontoday.com](https://burlingtontoday.com/national-news/action-needed-to-ensure-groups-arent-unduly-de-banked-over-terror-risks-report-12779001) — Action needed to ensure groups aren't unduly 'de-banked' over terror risks: report - [Western Investor](https://westerninvestor.com/national-business/action-needed-to-ensure-groups-arent-unduly-de-banked-over-terror-risks-report-12778994) — Action needed to ensure groups aren't unduly 'de-banked' over terror risks: report - [Winnipeg Free Press](https://winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/life/faith/2026/09/15/action-needed-to-ensure-groups-arent-unduly-de-banked-over-terror-risks-report) — Action needed to ensure groups aren't unduly 'de-banked' over terror risks: report ## Questions **What is derisking or de-banking?** Derisking or de-banking refers to the practice where financial institutions end or restrict access to financial services for clients or entire sectors to avoid perceived risks, particularly those associated with terrorist financing or money laundering. This can lead to account closures for non-profit organizations and individuals. **Which groups are most affected by derisking in Canada?** According to the International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group report, organizations active in Muslim communities or those conducting humanitarian activities abroad are disproportionately affected by derisking. This can disrupt vital international aid and development programs. **Are Canadian financial institutions required to explain account closures?** No, financial institutions in Canada are not legally required to provide a specific reason for closing an account. The report highlights that this lack of transparency contributes to a near-total absence of effective recourse for affected organizations and individuals. **Is there an independent body to review derisking decisions in Canada?** The report states that no independent body in Canada has the mandate to review whether a derisking decision was reasonable, non-discriminatory, or evidence-based. This lack of oversight means that life-altering financial decisions are made without meaningful appeal or systematic data collection. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/report-finds-lack-of-recourse-for-groups-de-banked-over-terror-financing-fears. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Report finds lack of recourse for groups de-banked over terror financing fears", https://mediabias.news/politics/report-finds-lack-of-recourse-for-groups-de-banked-over-terror-financing-fears