The Frost Bank Case — Timeline, Accountability, and Truth
A documented account of alleged discrimination, retaliation, and related civil rights violations, as reflected in the public court record.
Santos, Jr. v. Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc.
United States District Court
Western District of Texas
Case #: 5:25-cv-00717
Case Filed: June 25, 2025
Why This Page Exists
This page documents a federal civil rights lawsuit I filed against Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. d/b/a Frost Bank. The information shared here is based on court filings, agency records, and contemporaneous documentation. It exists to preserve the public record, provide transparency, and explain why this case matters beyond one individual. The case involves multiple claims under federal and state employment laws and alleges a pattern of conduct over several years rather than a single isolated event.
Case Overview
I worked at Frost Bank for nearly five years. During that time, I consistently met expectations, received praise for my work, and supported customers and colleagues.
Over that entire period, I missed approximately 24 days of work in total. Many of those days were related to documented medical or family circumstances that were communicated to management and Human Resources.
Beginning in 2019, I experienced escalating scrutiny, inconsistent policy enforcement, and treatment that did not align with Frost Bank’s stated values or prior practice. I raised concerns internally and followed established reporting channels.
In June 2023, I submitted a formal discrimination complaint to Human Resources. Rather than resolving the issues raised, Frost reassigned me, subjected me to heightened discipline, and placed me into a so-called “mentorship” program that I did not request.
In late 2023, after disclosing serious medical conditions and initiating a protected medical leave process, I was terminated in January 2024 before the FMLA medical certification deadline expired. Frost cited attendance as the reason for termination.
The lawsuit alleges that this sequence of events was not coincidental, but retaliatory and unlawful under federal and state law.
As reflected in the pleadings and subsequent filings, the lawsuit asserts multiple civil rights and employment-related claims, including allegations of discrimination, retaliation, hostile work environment, failure to accommodate, and interference with protected medical leave.
These claims arise from multiple adverse employment actions and protected characteristics alleged in the court record.
Timeline of Key Events
Below is a condensed, public-facing timeline highlighting key events reflected in the court record.
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2019 — Hired at Frost Bank; early performance praise and positive feedback
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2020–2022 — Internal concerns raised; policies applied inconsistently; training and advancement opportunities denied
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June 2023 — Formal HR discrimination complaint submitted
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Summer 2023 — Reassignment and placement into a “mentorship” following the complaint
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Late 2023 — Medical disclosures made and FMLA process initiated through Human Resources
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January 2024 — Terminated before the FMLA medical certification deadline; termination cited as attendance-related
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2024–2025 — EEOC filings, Department of Labor involvement, and federal court proceedings initiated
What the Case Alleges
As alleged in the pleadings and supporting filings, the lawsuit asserts that Frost Bank engaged in the following conduct:
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Retaliation for internal and external complaints
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Selective enforcement of workplace policies
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Interference with protected medical leave under the FMLA
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Discrimination based on protected characteristics
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Failure to address harassment and hostile treatment
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Shifting and inconsistent explanations for termination
These allegations are supported by emails, internal records, agency determinations, and sworn statements.
Legal Basis
The claims are brought under federal and Texas law, including:
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Title VII of the Civil Rights Act
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Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
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Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
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Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA)
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42 U.S.C. § 1981
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Texas Labor Code (Chapter 21 and related provisions)
Scope of the Claims
The lawsuit pending before the United States District Court involves multiple statutory claims asserted under federal and state law. The allegations concern more than one protected characteristic, more than one adverse employment action, and both discrete acts and ongoing conduct over time. The case remains active, and all allegations are contested.
Leadership Awareness
Court filings document leadership awareness of concerns raised during my employment, including meetings and communications occurring shortly before my termination. These facts and the absence of corrective action are part of the public record before the court.
Corporate Governance and Standards
As part of its public corporate governance framework, Frost Bank maintains board adopted policies addressing ethical conduct, internal reporting, non-retaliation, and oversight of employee complaints. Like other governance documents applicable to publicly traded financial institutions, these policies describe expectations for how concerns are to be raised, investigated, and addressed.
The allegations in this case are evaluated against that broader governance framework reflected in the public record.
Current Status
This case remains active. Following Frost Bank’s execution of a Waiver of Service on November 19, 2025, the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure require Frost Bank to file its Answer or other responsive pleading on or before January 19, 2026.
Why This Matters
This case is not just about one termination.
It raises broader questions about workplace accountability, including:
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how internal complaints are handled,
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how medical leave is treated,
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how workplace policies are selectively enforced, and
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what happens when employees speak up instead of remaining silent.
Case Documents (Public Record)
(Filed with the U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas)
Public Record Notice
The documents presented on this page are publicly filed court records from Santos v. Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc., pending in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas. They are shared for purposes of transparency and public awareness.
No findings of fact or determinations of liability have been made by the Court at this stage of the proceedings. This page summarizes allegations, filings, and procedural history as reflected in the public record and does not constitute a final adjudication on the merits of the case.