The Eastsider LA
his employees and customers to close their Citibank accounts as well. He figures at least 20 have done so.
“I don’t want to support a bank that does stuff like that,” said Schoenhals, who had been one of Bernal’s customers for 13 y ears. “She treated everybody the same. It was like family.”
Few people expect Citibank to rehire Bernal because 20 people have pulled their money out of the bank. But, at the very least, Bernal’s supporters want Citibank to recognize her contributions to the community and the bank and to give her a severance. “It’s just been so insulting and humiliating,” said Brooks of Bernal’s treatment.
Bernal, for her part, is still not clear what she will be doing long term.
“I would love to go back to do what I do best,” Bernal said. “I want to go back to [Silver Lake]. Those are my people. My customers gave me much more than I ever game them.”
