Payday lending trade group Community Financial Services Association of America has sued U.S. banking regulators, accusing them of pressuring banks to stop serving payday lenders. The complaint alleges that under the Department of Justice's Operation Choke Point, regulators at the Federal Reserve, FDIC and OCC have engaged in "a concerted campaign" to drive payday lenders out of business by pressuring financial institutions to terminate relationships with the lenders. According to the suit, more than 80 banks have cut off relations with payday lenders due to warnings that continued interactions “will result in harsh and prolonged examinations, reduced examination ratings, and/or other punitive measures.”