*This story has been edited to reflct a change.
After receiving much flack for refusing business with a new condom company, JP Morgan' Chase's credit card processing branch, Paymantech, changed their mind on Friday. They'll process payments for the condom start-up, Lovability, the Huffington Post reported.
Lovability, however, has rejected Chase's peace offering for the time being. When their founder, Tiffany Gaines, heard her company was originally denied by chase, she started a petition, which she since maintained.
"This bank's prejudice presented another hurdle for us," Gaines told the Huff Post. "Fighting the stigma against condoms is difficult enough without the bank restricting our company's ability to grow and prosper. Condoms must be removed from this negative category so that companies like ours can make our positive social missions a reality."
According to Lovability founder Tiffany Gaines, Chase sent her the below email when she originally approached them for business.
"I wanted to let you know that we actually will not be able to move forward regarding processing with Chase Paymentech, as processing sales for adult-oriented products is a prohibited vertical. I apologize for the confusion and wish you and your growing brand the best of luck in the future."
The email was especially offensive to Gaines' company, which manufactures "beautifully packaged condoms with one goal in mind: to destigmatize women's relationship with condoms by helping women celebrate the empowerment that comes from being prepared!"
Indeed, the condoms are wrapped like a tin of mints, some with the message, "be sweet, be sassy, be sensible." Three come per package.
Following Gaines' statements to the Huff Post, published in this article, Chase admitted their mistake. It seems as if the sender of the original email might have thought lovability condoms offered something different (besides great packaging) or were associated with other endeavors than more traditional brands.
"We have reached out to Ms. Gaines, apologized for the misinformation that we originally provided to her, and offered to process payments for her business," Chase said in a statement to HuffPost. "Chase Paymentech processes payments for a wide variety of merchants, including grocers and drug stores, that sell similar products."
