CS-2025-13 - BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. v. UZOMA ANYANWU

What's This Case About?

Let’s be real: we’ve all gotten that letter. The one with the crisp bank logo, the sterile font, the ominous “Past Due Amount” in bold. But few of us ever get the full-court press — the actual lawsuit. And that’s exactly what happened to Uzoma Anyanwu of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, who woke up one December morning to find out she’s now officially at war with Bank of America, over $9,958.49. Not millions. Not thousands stolen in a cyber heist. Just under ten grand on a credit card. A number so painfully ordinary, it’s almost poetic. This isn’t a Wall Street thriller. This is your neighbor’s worst financial Tuesday.

So who is Uzoma Anyanwu? We don’t know much — no criminal record, no celebrity status, no viral TikTok explaining her side. Just a woman living at 810 W Indianapolis Place, trying to make it in Broken Arrow, where the cost of living is modest but so are the paychecks. And on the other side? One of the largest financial institutions in the world, Bank of America, N.A., a behemoth with more money than most countries, represented by a debt collection law firm that specializes in cases like this — cold, efficient, and relentless. It’s David and Goliath, if David forgot to pay his minimum payment for a few months and Goliath responded by hiring a lawyer in Colorado.

Here’s how we got here: Uzoma opened a Bank of America credit card. Standard stuff. Visa Signature, 22.99% interest, $10,000 credit line. She used it — bought things, maybe paid some bills, possibly even did a balance transfer (there’s $2,323.39 of that on the statement). For a while, it was fine. Then, in July 2023, things started to unravel. On July 5, she made a payment — $548 — which showed up on her statement dated July 6. But it wasn’t enough. The minimum payment due was $676. So she was short. And credit cards don’t do grace periods for the financially stretched.

By August 3, her payment was officially late. And the machine kicked in. A $40 late fee. Then interest — $195.27 just in that billing cycle. The statement warns her, in that passive-aggressive corporate tone we’ve all come to dread: “If you make only the Total Minimum Payment each period, you will pay more in interest and it will take you longer to pay off your balance.” How long? Try 22 years. And the total? $26,581. Let that sink in. She owes $9,958 now, but if she’d just kept paying the minimum, she’d end up paying triple that. That’s not a credit card. That’s a financial black hole.

But Uzoma didn’t keep paying. In fact, she didn’t pay again. The account “charged off” on July 11, 2023 — a polite banking term for “we’ve given up on you.” Charge-offs are serious. They nuke your credit score. They mean the bank has written the debt off as a loss for accounting purposes — but that doesn’t mean they won’t come after you. And come after her they did. On December 2, 2024, exactly one year and a few weeks after her last payment, Bank of America filed a lawsuit in Tulsa County District Court. Not a call. Not a collection letter. A lawsuit. The cause? Breach of contract. Translation: you agreed to pay, and you didn’t. Now we want our money. In court.

And what do they want? $9,958.49. Plus court costs. That’s it. No punitive damages. No demand for her soul. Just the balance, frozen in time at the moment of charge-off. Is that a lot? In the grand scheme of debt, it’s mid-tier. It’s not a mortgage. It’s not a car loan. But for the average Oklahoman? It’s six months of groceries. It’s a used car. It’s a year of rent in some parts of Tulsa. It’s real money. And yet — and this is the wild part — Bank of America is spending legal fees, paying a Colorado-based attorney, filing court documents, all to recover less than ten grand. That’s not just aggressive. That’s efficient. They’ve turned debt collection into a factory line: identify the default, attach the legal template, file, repeat. Uzoma isn’t a person to them. She’s Account #0624. A line item. A balance sheet problem to be solved.

Now, let’s talk about the absurdity. Because there’s so much to choose from. Is it that a national bank is suing an individual over a sum that, for them, is basically loose change? Is it that the interest rate on cash advances is 29.99% — nearly 30% — meaning if you ever dare to pull cash from an ATM, the bank starts eating your future? Is it the sheer audacity of the “Total Minimum Payment Warning” that says, “Hey, if you only pay what we tell you to, you’ll be in debt for 22 years”? That’s not a warning. That’s a confession. They want you to pay the minimum. They profit from your struggle. This whole system is designed so people like Uzoma fall behind, get buried in interest, and either pay way more than they borrowed or get sued. And now, here we are. A woman in Oklahoma is being hauled into court not for fraud, not for theft, but for falling into the trap the bank set.

Do we know why she stopped paying? Maybe she lost her job. Maybe medical bills piled up. Maybe she moved, changed numbers, missed the notices. The filing doesn’t say. Bank of America doesn’t care. The contract says pay. You didn’t. Now pay up — or see you in court. And that’s the most chilling part: this isn’t about fairness. It’s about enforcement. The machine doesn’t stop. It can’t. Because if it stopped for Uzoma, it might stop for someone else. And then where would the profits go?

So what’s our take? We’re not rooting for reckless spending. We’re not saying people shouldn’t pay their debts. But let’s call this what it is: a routine, soulless debt collection operation dressed up as justice. Bank of America isn’t hurt by $10,000. They’re built to absorb that. But Uzoma? A lawsuit on her record? A judgment? That could follow her for years. It could affect her credit, her ability to rent, to get a loan, to move on. And for what? So a bank can recover money it knew might not get paid when it approved the card in the first place?

The most absurd thing isn’t the amount. It’s the imbalance. It’s the fact that a global financial titan has to sue a single person in Tulsa County to get back less than the cost of a luxury vacation. It’s the cold, clinical way the whole thing is handled — no mercy, no negotiation, just Exhibit 1 and a signature from a lawyer in Lakewood. If this were a movie, the audience would hiss at the villain. But in real life? The villain wears a suit, cites contract law, and wins. Every. Single. Time.

So here’s hoping Uzoma fights back. Not because she didn’t owe the money — she probably did. But because the system is rigged. Because no one should be sued over a credit card balance without at least a conversation. Because 22 years of payments for a $10,000 card is a scam dressed up as math. And because sometimes, in the quiet halls of Tulsa County District Court, the most radical thing you can do is show up — and ask, out loud, “Wait… is this really fair?”

But let’s be honest. We already know how this ends.

Case Overview

$9,958 Demand Petition

Jurisdiction

District Court of Tulsa County, Oklahoma

Filing Attorney

Ashton Dewayne Sears

Nelson & Kennard

Relief Sought

$9,958 Monetary

Plaintiffs

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. business
Rep: Nelson & Kennard

Defendants

UZOMA ANYANWU individual

Claims

#	Cause of Action	Description
1	-	breach of contract

Petition Text

2,319 words

IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF TULSA COUNTY STATE OF OKLAHOMA BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., Plaintiff, vs. UZOMA ANYANWU Defendant(s). Case No. MELISSA EAST PETITION COMES NOW the Plaintiff, by and through counsel, Nelson & Kennard, and herewith alleges the following and seeks redress as hereafter delineated. 1. Plaintiff is a national banking association, which transacts business within the State of Oklahoma. 2. Venue is proper in this County, as the Defendant(s) either reside(s) in this County at the commencement of this action, or the contract which is the subject matter of this action was made, executed, and delivered in this County. 3. The last four (4) digits of the Defendant’s account number, used by the original creditor as of the date of default are XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX0624. 4. Plaintiff’s claim arises when the Defendant(s) opened a credit account and failed to make the required monthly payments as agreed. The credit account charged off for non-payment on 7/11/23, the balance due at time of default is as follows $9,958.49. A true and accurate copy of the last periodic statement provided to the Defendant(s) prior to charge-off is attached hereto as Exhibit 1. 5. The Defendant(s) breached the Contract by failing to make the required periodic payments. 6. As a direct and proximate result of the Defendant(s) default, the total amount of debt claimed $9,958.49. 7. The date of the last payment made by the Defendant(s) is July 6, 2023. 8. Plaintiff seeks court costs, and for such further relief as the Court may deem proper in the premises. WHEREFORE, Plaintiff, BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. prays for judgment against the Defendant(s), UZOMA ANYANWU in the amount of $9,958.49, plus all costs herein expended, including but not limited to, court costs, sheriff's fees, and special process server fees; and for such other and further relief as the Court may deem proper in the premises. Dated this December 2, 2024. Nelson & Kennard By: [Signature] Ashton Dewayne Sears, OBA # 35737 12596 W. Bayaud Ave., Ste. 120 Lakewood, CO 80228 Phone: 866-920-2295 Attorney for the Plaintiff EXHIBIT 1 BANK OF AMERICA P.O. BOX 15284 WILMINGTON, DE 19850 UZOMA ANYANWU 810 W INDIANAPOLIS PL BROKEN ARROW OK 74012-0762 Customer Service Information: www.bankofamerica.com 1.800.421.2110 Mail billing inquiries to: Bank of America P.O. Box 672050 Dallas TX 75267-2050 Mail payment to: Bank of America P.O. Box 851001 Dallas TX 75285-1001 Account Summary/Payment Information <table> <tr> <th>Previous Balance</th> <td>$10,271.22</td> <th>New Balance Total</th> <td>$9,958.49</td> </tr> <tr> <th>Payments and Other Credits</th> <td>-$548.00</td> <th>Current Payment Due</th> <td>$332.00</td> </tr> <tr> <th>Purchases and Adjustments</th> <td>$0.00</td> <th>Past Due Amount</th> <td>$344.00</td> </tr> <tr> <th>Fees Charged</th> <td>$40.00</td> <th>Total Minimum Payment Due</th> <td>$676.00</td> </tr> <tr> <th>Interest Charged</th> <td>$195.27</td> <th>Payment Due Date</th> <td>08/03/2023</td> </tr> <tr> <th>New Balance Total</th> <td></td> <th></th> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <th>Total Credit Line</th> <td>$10,000.00</td> <th>Total Credit Available</th> <td>$41.51</td> <th>Cash Credit Line</th> <td>$3,000.00</td> <th>Portion of Credit Available for Cash</th> <td>$41.51</td> </tr> <tr> <th>Statement Closing Date</th> <td>07/06/2023</td> <th>Days in Billing Cycle</th> <td>30</td> <th colspan="4"></th> </tr> </table> Late Payment Warning: If we do not receive your Total Minimum Payment by the date listed above, you may have to pay a late fee of up to $40.00 and your APRs may be increased up to the Penalty APR of 29.99%. Total Minimum Payment Warning: If you make only the Total Minimum Payment each period, you will pay more in interest and it will take you longer to pay off your balance. For example: <table> <tr> <th>If you make no additional charges using this card and each month you pay</th> <th>You will payoff the balance shown on this statement in about</th> <th>And you will end up paying an estimated total of</th> </tr> <tr> <td>Only the Total Minimum Payment</td> <td>22 years</td> <td>$26,581.00</td> </tr> </table> If you would like information about credit counseling services, call 866.300.5238. Visa Signature® Account# 0624 June 7 - July 6, 2023 Account Number: 0624 Payment Due Date: 08/03/2023 New Balance Total: $9,958.49 Total Minimum Payment Due: $676.00 Enter payment amount $ For change of address/phone number, see reverse side. Make your payment online at www.bankofamerica.com or Mail this coupon along with your check payable to: Bank of America IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THIS ACCOUNT PAYING INTEREST - We will not charge interest on Purchases on the next statement if you pay the New Balance Total In full by the Payment Due Date, and you had paid in full by the previous Payment Due Date. We will begin charging interest on Balance Transfers and Cash Advances on the transaction date. TOTAL INTEREST CHARGE COMPUTATION - Interest Charges accrue and are compounded on a daily basis. To determine the Interest Charges, we multiply each Balance Subject to Interest Rate by its applicable Daily Periodic Rate and that result is multiplied by the number of days in the billing cycle. To determine the total Interest Charge for the billing cycle, we add the Periodic Rate Interest Charges together. A Daily Periodic Rate is calculated by dividing an Annual Percentage Rate by 365. HOW WE ALLOCATE YOUR PAYMENTS - Payments are allocated to posted balances. If your account has balances with different APRs, we will allocate the amount of your payment equal to the Total Minimum Payment Due to the lowest APR balances first (including transactions made after this statement). Payment amounts in excess of your Total Minimum Payment Due will be applied to balances with higher APRs before balances with lower APRs. IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT PAYMENTS BY PHONE - When using the optional Pay-by-Phone service, you authorize us to initiate an electronic payment from your account at the financial institution you designate. You must authorize the amount and timing of each payment. For your protection, we will ask for security information. To cancel, call us before the scheduled payment date. Same-day payments cannot be edited or canceled. YOUR CREDIT LINES - The Total Credit Line is the amount of credit available for the account; however, only a portion of that is available for Bank Cash Advances. The Cash Credit Line is that amount you have available for Bank Cash Advances. Generally, Bank Cash Advances consist of ATM Cash Advances, Over the Counter (OTC) Cash Advances, Same-Day Online Cash Advances, Overdraft Protection Cash Advances, Cash Equivalents, and applicable transaction fees. MISCELLANEOUS - Promotional Rate End Date: This date is based on a future statement closing date. If you change your payment due date, this date could change. The New Balance Total which appears on this statement is not a payoff amount and may be subject to additional interest charges when you pay in full after your statement closing date. Virtual cards are the digital form of your eligible physical credit cards stored within a digital wallet. © 2023 Bank of America Corporation PAYMENTS - We credit mailed payments as of the date received, if the payment is: (1) received by 5 p.m. local time at the address shown on the remittance portion of your monthly statement; (2) paid with a check drawn in U.S. dollars on a U.S. financial institution or a U.S. dollar money order; and (3) sent in the return envelope with only the remittance portion of your statement accompanying it. Payments received by mail after 5 p.m. local time at the remittance address on any day including the Payment Due Date, but that otherwise meet the above requirements, will be credited as of the next day. Payments made online or by phone will be credited as of the date of receipt if made by 5 p.m. Central. Credit for any other payments may be delayed up to five days. Cash payments made with our tellers will only be accepted with a valid identification (ID). No payment shall operate as an accord and satisfaction without the prior written approval of one of our Senior Officers. We process most payment checks electronically by using the information found on your check. Each check authorizes us to create a one-time electronic funds transfer (or process it as a check or paper draft). Funds may be withdrawn from your account as soon as the same day we receive your payment. Checks are not returned to you. If you have authorized us to pay your credit card bill automatically from your savings or checking account with us, you can stop the payment on any amount you think is wrong. To stop payment, your letter must reach us at least three business days before the automatic payment is scheduled to occur. CALCULATION OF BALANCES SUBJECT TO INTEREST RATE Average Daily Balance Method (including new Purchases): We calculate separate Balances Subject to an Interest Rate for Purchases and for each Introductory or Promotional Offer balance consisting of Purchases. We do this by: (1) calculating a daily balance for each day in the billing cycle; (2) adding all the daily balances together; and (3) dividing the sum of the daily balances by the number of days in the billing cycle. To calculate the daily balance for each day in this statement’s billing cycle, we: (1) take the beginning balance; (2) add an amount equal to the applicable Daily Periodic Rate multiplied by the previous day’s daily balance; (3) add new Purchases, new Account Fees, and new Transaction Fees; and (4) subtract applicable payments and credits. If any daily balance is less than zero we treat it as zero. Average Balance Method (including new Balance Transfers and new Cash Advances): We calculate separate Balances Subject to an Interest Rate for Balance Transfers, Cash Advances, and for each Introductory or Promotional Offer balance consisting of Balance Transfers or Cash Advances. We do this by: (1) calculating a daily balance for each day in this statement’s billing cycle; (2) calculating a daily balance for each day prior to this statement’s billing cycle that had a “Pre-Cycle balance” - a Pre-Cycle balance is a Balance Transfer or a Cash Advance with a transaction date prior to this statement’s billing cycle but with a posting date within this statement’s billing cycle; (3) adding all the daily balances together; and (4) dividing the sum of the daily balances by the number of days in this statement’s billing cycle. To calculate the daily balance for each day in this statement’s billing cycle, we: (1) take the beginning balance; (2) add an amount equal to the applicable Daily Periodic Rate multiplied by the previous day’s daily balance; (3) add new Balance Transfers, new Cash Advances and Transaction Fees; and (4) subtract applicable payments and credits. If any daily balance is less than zero we treat it as zero. To calculate a daily balance for each day prior to this statement’s billing cycle that had a Pre-Cycle balance: (1) we take the beginning balance attributable solely to Pre-Cycle balance (which will be zero on the transaction date of the first Pre-Cycle balance); (2) add an amount equal to the applicable Daily Periodic Rate multiplied by the previous day’s daily balance; (3) and add only the applicable Pre-Cycle balances and their related Transaction Fees. We exclude from this calculation all transactions posted in previous billing cycles. For the complete terms and conditions of your account, consult your Credit Card Agreement. This account is issued and administered by Bank of America. Bank of America is a registered trademark of Bank of America Corporation. Transactions <table> <tr> <th>Transaction Date</th> <th>Posting Date</th> <th>Description</th> <th>Reference Number</th> <th>Account Number</th> <th>Amount</th> <th>Total</th> </tr> <tr> <td>07/05</td> <td>07/06</td> <td>Payments and Other Credits<br>Online payment from CHK 4382</td> <td>7190</td> <td>0624</td> <td>–548.00</td> <td>–$548.00</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="6">TOTAL PAYMENTS AND OTHER CREDITS FOR THIS PERIOD</td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>07/03</td> <td>07/04</td> <td>Fees<br>LATE FEE FOR PAYMENT DUE</td> <td colspan="3"></td> <td>0624<br>40.00<br>$40.00</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="6">TOTAL FEES FOR THIS PERIOD</td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <th colspan="7">Interest Charged</th> </tr> <tr> <td>07/06</td> <td>07/06</td> <td>INTEREST CHARGED ON PURCHASES</td> <td colspan="4">151.37</td> </tr> <tr> <td>07/06</td> <td>07/06</td> <td>INTEREST CHARGED ON BALANCE TRANSFERS</td> <td colspan="4">43.90</td> </tr> <tr> <td>07/06</td> <td>07/06</td> <td>INTEREST CHARGED ON DIR DEP&CHK CASHADV</td> <td colspan="4">0.00</td> </tr> <tr> <td>07/06</td> <td>07/06</td> <td>INTEREST CHARGED ON BANK CASH ADVANCES</td> <td colspan="4">0.00</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="6">TOTAL INTEREST CHARGED FOR THIS PERIOD</td> <td>$195.27</td> </tr> </table> <table> <tr> <th>Total fees charged in 2023</th> <th>$240.00</th> </tr> <tr> <th>Total interest charged in 2023</th> <th>$1,375.54</th> </tr> </table> Interest Charge Calculation Your Annual Percentage Rate (APR) is the annual interest rate on your account. <table> <tr> <th>Type of Balance</th> <th>Annual Percentage Rate</th> <th>Promotional Transaction Type</th> <th>Promotional Offer ID</th> <th>Promotional Rate End Date</th> <th>Balance Subject to Interest Rate</th> <th>Interest Charges by Transaction Type</th> </tr> <tr> <td>Purchases</td> <td>22.99%V</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>$ 8,010.97</td> <td>$ 151.37</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Balance Transfers</td> <td>22.99%V</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>$ 2,323.39</td> <td>$ 43.90</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Direct Deposit and Check Cash Advances</td> <td>25.99%V</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>$ 0.00</td> <td>$ 0.00</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Bank Cash Advances</td> <td>29.99%V</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>$ 0.00</td> <td>$ 0.00</td> </tr> </table> APR Type Definitions Daily Interest Rate Type: V = Variable Rate (rate may vary) Important Messages You can request a copy of this statement in either Braille or Large Print by calling 800.432.1000 or going to bankofamerica.com and enter Visually Impaired Access from the home page. 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