Barfield v. Commerce Bancshares

McCONNELL, Circuit Judge.

Chris Barfield, an African-American man, entered a Commerce Bank branch in Wichita, Kansas, and requested change for a $50 bill. He was refused change on the ground that he was not an account-holder. The next day, Chris Barfield’s father, James Barfield, asked a white friend, John Poison, to make the same request from the bank. Mr. Poison was given change, and the teller never asked whether he held an account with the bank. A few minutes later, James Barfield entered the bank, asked for change for a $100 bill, and was told that he would not be given change unless he…