Former Wells Fargo VP files $1.2M suit alleging age, race and LGBTQ discrimination

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) - A former Wells Fargo executive is suing the bank in federal court, alleging he faced age, disability and racial discrimination.

Robert Propst, 63, who worked as a senior vice president at Wells Fargo, filed a $1.2 million lawsuit in Charlotte.

He claims he was forcibly discharged in August 2023, after working for the bank and its predecessor companies for nearly 39 years.

Propst claims that company leaders marginalized him due to his age, vision impairment, and because a majority of employees who worked under him were Black.

Suit claims ageism, racism and more

According to the lawsuit, Propst’s working conditions deteriorated dramatically in 2022 following a series of leadership changes at Wells Fargo.

Propst’s supervisor allegedly diminished the work of his majority Black team, refused to meet with them and addressed concerns with retaliation rather than support.

Propst, who has a vision impairment, also claims he was criticized due to his disability and pressured to abandon his remote-work accommodations.

Despite receiving positive performance reviews for years while working remotely, Propst claims his new supervisor pressured him to return to the office and began monitoring his office badge swipes, even though he was exempt from such tracking.

Read: Teacher reportedly fired over Charlie Kirk post files federal lawsuit against Gaston County Schools

The suit further alleges rampant age discrimination. Propst claims his supervisor made multiple comments about his age and repeatedly encouraged him to retire early.

Propst -- who is gay and served in Wells Fargo’s PRIDE LGBTQ+ employee resource group for more than 20 years -- claims his supervisor also refused to support his continued involvement, remarking that it was “time for younger leadership.”

Propst also said his supervisor responded with shock and dismay upon learning Propst was married to Black man while on a work call.

Propst was forcibly discharged in 2023 after he complained to human resources and received the first poor performance review of his career, which allegedly referenced his age.

Propst said his predominately Black team also received poor reviews and a lack of support compared to other colleagues.

The combination of negative performance ratings, age-based retirement pressure, hostility surrounding his medical condition and the marginalization of his team created an intolerable and hostile work environment, the suit claimed.

Propst was terminated in August 2023 at age 63, despite his plans to work until the full retirement age of 67.

He claims Wells Fargo replaced him with a significantly younger employee. The lawsuit seeks to recoup lost wages and benefits estimated at more than $1.2 million, along with unspecified damages.

Read: Wells Fargo gives $1.5M to support co-op grocery on Charlotte’s West Boulevard