A press release issued by Sikh Mediawatch and Resource Task Force (Smart), a Sikh advocacy group, claimed that it had reached an agreement with retail financial institution FleetBoston Financial Corp., to ensure nondiscrimination against Sikh American customers and employees. The agreement, the press release said, also “calls for the institution to closely monitor discriminatory practices and improve services to the Sikh community.”

According to Smart, Fleet acknowledged in a joint statement that Sikhs were mandated to wear religious articles such as turbans and steel bracelets and were forbidden from shaving and cutting their hair. Fleet has accordingly, agreed to educate key employees about Sikh Americans, promptly investigate any discrimination allegations by its customers, and develop personal, business and financial solutions tailored to address the needs of the Sikh community.

The Smart press release said that the agreement was signed as part of a discrimination lawsuit settlement filed by a Sikh-American customer.

“Smart, Inderjeet Singh Chowdhary and Fleet Bank have been in negotiations since May last year, when Chowdhary, a Carteret, N.J., businessman filed a lawsuit against Fleet after being denied a CD account,” the press release said.

“Fleet Bank’s settlement of Chowdhary’s discrimination claim, which included an undisclosed monetary compensation, coincided with an agreement with Smart,” the press release added.

Navtej S. Khalsa, Smart’s executive director, was quoted as saying in the press release that the advocacy group will seek to curb discrimination of Sikh Americans by entering into similar agreements with other corporations.