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Citizens sues SoFi as fights over talent, pipelines persist

Citizens Bank hits SoFi with a racketeering lawsuit, alleging the fintech giant stole lending teams and confidential data to gain a market edge.

A major legal battle has erupted between Citizens Bank and the fintech lender SoFi, highlighting intense competition for the teams and data that drive consumer lending. Citizens is accusing SoFi of orchestrating a coordinated raid to poach top talent across nine states. The lawsuit alleges that SoFi didn't just hire away employees, but actively encouraged them to steal confidential customer information and trade secrets before they left. For retailers and operators, this signals a volatile period for two major players in the financing space. When lenders are locked in court over 'talent raids,' it can lead to internal distractions, shifts in underwriting consistency, or changes in how they manage their merchant pipelines. Citizens claims that SoFi specifically targeted their student loan and personal lending divisions to bypass the time it takes to build a competitive book of business. This litigation underscores how valuable your customer data and the loan officers who manage your accounts have become. If your business relies on either of these lenders, stay alert for potential turnover in your point of contact or shifts in their service levels as the legal discovery process unfolds.

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