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By Lananh Nguyen and Ross Kerber
(Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday accused the CEOs of Bank of America and JPMorgan Chase of not providing banking services to conservatives, echoing Republican complaints about the industry.
The broadside against Wall Street banks comes after some institutions have been accused by both congressional Republicans and Republican-led states of "woke capitalism" as well as de-banking gunmakers, fossil fuel companies and others perceived to be aligned with the political right.
The two banks targeted on Thursday denied they made banking decisions based on politics.
"I hope you start opening your bank to conservatives, because many conservatives complain that the banks are not allowing them to do business within the bank, and that included a place called Bank of America," said Trump, who returned to the White House on Monday.
"What you're doing is wrong," he said, in an address at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, via a video link. Trump did not cite evidence or specifics of any wrongdoing, in a question-and-answer session with corporate leaders and CEOs assembled on stage.
He also referenced JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon. "You and Jamie and everybody, I hope you're gonna open your bank to conservatives," Trump said.
In recent years various financial companies in the U.S. and elsewhere have tried to respond to growing interest from investors and clients on issues like climate change and workforce diversity.
But institutions have simultaneously faced complaints they unfairly cut off conservative groups over their viewpoints rather than violations of their policies such as bans on promoting violence.
Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan did not address the claim in comments right after Trump spoke, but he smiled and complimented him on the U.S. hosting the upcoming World Cup.
"We welcome conservatives," a Bank of America spokesperson said in an email.
"We are required to follow extensive government rules and regulations that sometimes result in decisions to exit client relationships. We never close accounts for political reasons and don't have a political litmus test."
JPMorgan, the biggest U.S. lender, also said it has never and would never close an account for political reasons.
"We follow the law and guidance from our regulators and have long said there are problems with the current framework Washington must address," it said.
"We welcome the opportunity to work with the new Administration and Congress on ways to remove regulatory ambiguity while maintaining our country's ability to address financial crime," a JPMorgan spokesperson said by email.