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Federal Reserve officials reversed on Friday a ban on religious symbols, allowing a bank in Perkins, Okla., to restore Christian displays.
That means, the Payne County Bank will once again be able to display crosses and have a Bible "verse of the day" on its website, and employees will be able to wear buttons that say "Merry Christmas, God With Us."
"We appreciate the generous outpouring of support and prayers of Americans all over the country," the small-town bank said on its website Friday.
About a week ago, the bank had been ordered by the Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank to remove religious and Christmas displays from the facility. The ban sparked public outcry and two members of the state's congressional delegation got involved.
"This is an all out assault on the faith, values, and rights of the bank, its employees and the people of Perkins they serve," Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) said in a statement Friday. "[I]t unduly discriminates against a person's faith in Christ and their Constitutionally protected freedom to publically express that faith."
U.S. Rep. Frank Lucas (R-Okla.-3) also denounced the ban and called on the Federal Reserve to review the situation.
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Shortly after they expressed their alarm in a joint letter to Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke, the ban was reversed.
The Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank had conferred with officials at the Federal Reserve in Washington, D.C., to resolve the issue.
Tom Hoenig, president of the local Federal Reserve Bank, clarified on Friday that the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System concluded that Regulation B, which prohibits discriminatory creditor practices, does not apply to personal items displayed in the workplace.
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