In a bizarre move, CitiBank apparently blocked a customer from accessing their bank account. You can read about it here, but it looks like they blocked the owners of a new gay men's social networking site fabulis from their CitiBank account because, (wait for it) they're gay and so is their customer base.

Yes, really. Here's the full story and here and here and here and a final rather half-assed apology from Citibank here.

CitiBank told the founders that the CitiBank bank account had been blocked because "objectionable content" on the fabulis blog. Mind, there's nothing at all on the blog (or the site) to object to; no nudity, violence, obscenity, or sex. It is the mildest of blogs. But it is a blog associated with a queer business. And this is a legitimate business, legal, and well-funded by backers from the Washington Post, among others. Jason Goldberg, the founder and CEO, is an experienced successful entrepreneur.

But, you know. There's teh gay. Apparently CitiBank has a compliance officer who doesn't like teh gay since fabulis was informed that their "Content was not in compliance with Citibank's standard policies." The "content" at this point is pictures of clothing, for the most part, and some innocuous videos from supporters, and the sort of text you'd find on any new business's blog and Website. I'm less convinced than Mr. Goldberg about the sincerity of CitiBank's response; it has the familiar ring of "some of my best friends . . ." to me. I can't help but wonder—are we looking at DADT from banks? (And when did corporate banks start vetting customer's Web content? Where do Playboy and Hooters Bank? What about the CitiBank Playboy Club logo cards? Do they have any corporate accounts with porn site owners?)

But I think Jason's question "Should we stay with Citi or should we move on?" is a good one.

What do you think? Take the money and business to a less idiotic bank? Work on building bridges and use this as a new opportunity?