Jeffrey Epstein's accusers are suing Deutsche Bank and JPMorgan, accusing them of ignoring 'blatant red flags' that enabled 'commercial sex trafficking'

• Accusers of Jeffrey Epstein are suing Deutsche Bank and JPMorgan, filings show.
• Lawyers for the plaintiffs accuse the banks of ignoring red flags around Epstein's activities.

People who accused Jeffrey Epstein of sexual abuse are suing Deutsche Bank and JPMorgan, accusing the banks of enabling the late billionaire's alleged "commercial sex trafficking enterprise."

Two filings brought Thursday in a New York federal court, and shared with Insider, accused the banks of facilitating the financier's financial activities that they argued should have drawn more scrutiny given his status as a registered sex offender. The Wall Street Journal first reported the story.

"Deutsche Bank also knew that Epstein would use means of force, threats of force, fraud, abuse of legal process, exploitation of power disparity, and a variety of other forms of coercion to cause young women and girls to engage in commercial sex acts," the lawsuit stated.

The lawsuit cites a 2020 investigation by the New York State Department of Financial Services into Deutsche's links with Epstein and Epstein-related entities in which the bank agreed to pay $150 million to resolve the case after finding Deutsche Bank failed to properly monitor Epstein's financial activity.

A spokesperson for Deutsche Bank told Insider in a statement: "We believe this claim lacks merit and will present our arguments in court."

JPMorgan is being pursued over Epstein's "symbiotic" relationship with Jes Staley, who was previously head of its private banking division. Staley resigned as CEO of Barclays in November 2021 after an investigation by UK regulators into his ties with Epstein.

"To put it plainly, Epstein needed a bank that knew he was engaging in illegal activity and did not care – because the bank only cared about the money that it was making from its relationship with Epstein," the lawsuit said of JPMorgan.

An unnamed woman bringing the suit against JPMorgan, a ballet dancer who lived in New York, says she was assaulted and trafficked by Epstein and his friend on a number of occasions over several years. The suit says large sums were withdrawn from JPMorgan accounts to pay the victims.

JPMorgan didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from Insider.

Another unnamed accuser suing Deutsche says she was sexually abused by Epstein and trafficked to his friends from about 2003 until about 2018, during which time she was paid in cash. The suit says Deutsche ignored several "red flags" included multiple payments to young women and substantial cash withdrawals.

Lawyers for the plaintiffs are pursuing unspecified damages from the banks.

In a statement to Insider, lawyers from Edwards Pottinger LLC, representing the plaintiffs, said: "If you were ever victimized by Jeffrey Epstein, or any of his friends, call us.

"If you were around Epstein, unwittingly helped him in any way, or have any information that can help us bring those accountable to justice, it is never too late to do the right thing. We need your help to do right by these courageous survivors."