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BECKHAM COUNTY • CS-2026-00064

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. v. PHOUKONE SYRIBOUTH

Filed: Mar 13, 2026
Type: CS

What's This Case About?

Let’s cut straight to the drama: Bank of America is suing a guy named Phoukone Syribouth for $4,325.80 — not because he went on a shopping spree he couldn’t afford, but because the bank let him keep using the card even after he was already thousands over his limit, racking up interest at rates so high they’d make a loan shark blush, and now they’re shocked — shocked! — that he didn’t pay it all back. It’s like watching someone get handed a flamethrower, told “go nuts,” and then getting sued for starting a fire.

So who are we talking about here? On one side, you’ve got Bank of America — yes, that Bank of America. The one with the red, white, and blue logo that sponsors art exhibits and Revolutionary War documentaries while quietly charging 26.74% APR on credit card balances. They’re represented by a law firm called Nelson and Kennard, LLP — corporate debt collectors with offices in Colorado who apparently specialize in suing people for unpaid credit cards. On the other side: Phoukone Syribouth, a resident of Elk City, Oklahoma — population 11,000, where the biggest drama usually involves who stole the church potluck casserole. He opened a credit card account at some point, presumably to cover life expenses, and somewhere along the way, things spiraled. The last payment he made was April 16, 2025. After that? Radio silence. No more payments. No more credits. Just silence, interest, and an account that officially “charged off” — banker-speak for “we’ve given up” — on November 29, 2025.

Now let’s walk through how we got here, because the timeline is chef’s kiss petty. According to the final statement attached to the lawsuit, Syribouth’s balance crept up over time — not from new spending, mind you, but from interest. The statement from October 20 to November 19, 2025 shows a previous balance of $4,228.70. He made no new purchases. No fees were added. But the bank tacked on $97.10 in interest — nearly a hundred bucks in one month — pushing the total to $4,325.80. And get this: his credit limit was only $3,500. He was already $825.80 over his limit, and the bank still charged him interest as if everything was fine. In fact, the statement even says, “There is no fee for being over your Total Credit Line.” So they’re not even mad about the overage — they’re just quietly compounding interest like a slow-motion financial horror movie.

And the interest rates? Oh, honey. The APR on purchases is 26.74% — variable, which means it can go up. For cash advances, it’s even higher: 28.49%. That’s not just high — that’s “buy a $5 sandwich and owe $10 in a year” high. And according to the statement, the total interest charged in 2025 alone was $931.76. Add in $229 in fees, and you’ve got a debt snowball rolling faster than a tumbleweed through downtown Elk City. The kicker? The statement includes a warning that if you only make the minimum payment, it’ll take 14 years to pay off the balance — and you’ll end up shelling out nearly $10,000 in total. That’s more than double what he owes now. It’s not just debt — it’s a financial trap, dressed up as a Visa Signature card.

So why are we in court? Bank of America is suing for breach of contract — which, in plain English, means: “You agreed to pay us back, and you didn’t.” That’s it. That’s the whole case. They’re not accusing Syribouth of fraud, identity theft, or skipping town with a jet ski. He just stopped paying. And while that’s technically a breach, the real story is in the details: the bank continued to accrue interest, continued to send statements, continued to treat the account as active — even after it was over the limit and months past due. No suspension. No freeze. Just interest piling up like dirty laundry in a college dorm.

And what do they want? $4,325.80. Plus court costs. That’s the number. Not $10,000. Not $5,000. Four thousand, three hundred, twenty-five dollars and eighty cents. To Bank of America, that’s probably less than the cost of printing the lawsuit. But to someone living in Elk City, Oklahoma — where the median household income is around $50,000 — that’s over 10% of a month’s take-home pay. It’s not a trivial sum, but it’s also not a fortune. It’s the kind of amount that could’ve been negotiated, settled, or even written off as a loss. But no. Instead, they sent a lawyer in Colorado to file a petition in Beckham County District Court, because apparently, dignity is no match for a spreadsheet.

Now, here’s our take — and we’re not lawyers, we’re storytellers, so take this with a grain of salt the size of a bison steak. The most absurd part of this whole saga isn’t that someone didn’t pay their credit card bill. People fall behind all the time. Life happens. Medical bills, job loss, car trouble — it’s 2026, not everyone’s living in a Ken Burns documentary about the American Revolution. No, the absurd part is the theater of it all. Bank of America, a trillion-dollar financial institution, is suing an individual for less than five grand, using a debt that ballooned due to interest rates that would’ve made 18th-century colonists revolt all over again. They’re sending statements with warnings about credit counseling, ads for PBS documentaries, and reminders about Braille accessibility — all while charging nearly 27% interest on a maxed-out card they never deactivated.

And let’s not pretend this is about accountability. This is about precedent. This is about sending a message: We will come for every dollar, no matter how small, no matter how unfair the system that created it. But here’s the thing — we’re rooting for the quiet guy in Elk City. Not because he definitely did nothing wrong, but because the system is so wildly lopsided. One side has armies of lawyers, algorithms, and ad campaigns featuring revolutionary history. The other has a P.O. box and a final statement that says, in bold: “You're a valued customer.”

Valued? Maybe. But not respected. And definitely not forgiven. So as this case crawls through the District Court of Beckham County, we’ll be watching — not for legal precedent, but for poetic justice. Because if there’s one thing the American Revolution taught us, it’s that even the smallest uprising can spark a bigger story.

Case Overview

$4,326 Demand Petition
Jurisdiction
District Court, Oklahoma
Relief Sought
$4,326 Monetary
Plaintiffs
Defendants
Claims
# Cause of Action Description
1 breach of contract

Petition Text

2,577 words
IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF BECKHAM COUNTY STATE OF OKLAHOMA BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., Plaintiff, vs. PHOUKONE SYRIBOUTH Defendant(s). Case No. PETITION COMES NOW the Plaintiff, by and through counsel, Nelson and Kennard, LLP, and herewith alleges the following and seeks redress as hereafter delineated. 1. Plaintiff is a national banking association, which transacts business within the State of Oklahoma. 2. Venue is proper in this County, as the Defendant(s) reside(s) in this County at the commencement of this action. 3. The last four (4) digits of the Defendant’s account number, used by the current creditor as of the date of default are XXXXXXXXXXXXX0740. 4. Plaintiff's claim arises when the Defendant(s) opened a credit account and failed to make the required monthly payments as agreed. The credit account charged off for non-payment on 11/29/25, the balance due at time of default was $4,325.80. A true and accurate copy of the last periodic statement provided to the Defendant(s) prior to charge-off is attached hereto as Exhibit 1. 5. The Defendant(s) breached the Contract by failing to make the required periodic payments. 6. As a direct and proximate result of the Defendant(s) default, the total amount of debt claimed is $4,325.80. 7. The date of the last payment made by the Defendant(s) is April 16, 2025. 8. Plaintiff seeks court costs, and for such further relief as the Court may deem proper in the premises. WHEREFORE, Plaintiff, BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. prays for judgment against the Defendant(s), PHOUKONE SYRIBOUTH in the amount of $4,325.80, plus all costs herein expended, including but not limited to, court costs, sheriff’s fees, and special process server fees; and for such other and further relief as the Court may deem proper in the premises. Dated this January 27, 2026 Nelson and Kennard, LLP By: ________________________________ Ashton Dewayne Sears, OBA # 35737 12596 W. Bayaud Ave., Ste. 120 Lakewood, CO 80228 Phone: 866-920-2295 [email protected] Attorney for the Plaintiff EXHIBIT 1 PHOUKONE SYRIBOUTH 911 BOWMAN AVE ELK CITY OK 73644-2218 Account Summary/Payment Information Previous Balance $4,228.70 Payments and Other Credits $0.00 Purchases and Adjustments $0.00 Fees Charged $0.00 Interest Charged $97.10 New Balance Total $4,325.80 Total Credit Line $3,500.00 Total Credit Available $0.00 Cash Credit Line $350.00 Portion of Credit Available for Cash $0.00 Statement Closing Date 11/19/2025 Days in Billing Cycle 31 Customer Service Information: www.bankofamerica.com 1.800.421.2110 Mail billing inquiries to: Bank of America P.O. Box 672050 Dallas TX 75267-2050 Mail payment to: Bank of America P.O. Box 851001 Dallas TX 75285-1001 Visa Signature® Account# 0740 October 20 - November 19, 2025 New Balance Total $4,325.80 Current Payment Due $139.00 Past Due Amount $1,088.00 Total Minimum Payment Due $1,227.00 Payment Due Date 12/16/2025 Late Payment Warning: If we do not receive your Total Minimum Payment by the date listed above, you may have to pay a late fee of up to $40.00 and your APRs may be increased up to the Penalty APR of 29.99%. Total Minimum Payment Warning: If you make only the Total Minimum Payment each period, you will pay more in interest and it will take you longer to pay off your balance. For example: <table> <tr> <th>If you make no additional charges using this card and each month you pay</th> <th>You will payoff the balance shown on this statement in about</th> <th>And you will end up paying an estimated total of</th> </tr> <tr> <td>Only the Total Minimum Payment</td> <td>14 years</td> <td>$9,783.00</td> </tr> </table> If you would like information about credit counseling services, call 866.300.5238. BANK OF AMERICA P.O. BOX 851001 DALLAS TX 75285-1001 Account Number: 0740 Payment Due Date 12/16/2025 New Balance Total $4,325.80 Total Minimum Payment Due $1,227.00 Enter payment amount $ For change of address/phone number, see reverse side. Make your payment online at www.bankofamerica.com or Mail this coupon along with your check payable to: Bank of America IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THIS ACCOUNT PAYING INTEREST - We will not charge you any interest on Purchases if you always pay your entire "Grace Period Balance", as defined in the next two paragraphs, by the Payment Due Date. Specifically, you will not pay interest for an entire billing cycle on Purchases if you Paid in Full the two previous Grace Period Balances on your account by their respective Payment Due Dates; otherwise, each Purchase begins to accrue interest on its transaction date or the first day of the billing cycle, whichever date is later. We will begin accruing interest on Balance Transfers and Cash Advances on the transaction date. If you do not have an active Custom Pay Plan, your Grace Period Balance will be the New Balance Total. New Balance Total (also referred to as the "Statement Balance") is the total billed amount as of the Closing Date of a billing cycle, as shown on your monthly statement, plus any adjustments for subsequently returned payments. If you have an active Custom Pay Plan, your Grace Period Balance will be the Interest Saving Balance as shown on your monthly statement plus any adjustments for subsequently returned payments. The Interest Saving Balance is your New Balance Total minus, any balances subject to a Custom Pay Plan, plus any Custom Pay Plan Payment(s) due, as shown on your monthly statement. TOTAL INTEREST CHARGE COMPUTATION - Interest charges accrue and are compounded on a daily basis. To determine the interest charges, we multiply each Balance Subject to Interest Rate by its applicable Daily Periodic Rate and that result is multiplied by the number of days in the billing cycle. To determine the total interest charge for the billing cycle, we add the interest charges together. A Daily Periodic Rate is calculated by dividing an Annual Percentage Rate by 365. HOW WE ALLOCATE YOUR PAYMENTS - Monthly minimum payments are required when you carry a balance. Payments are allocated to posted balances. We will first allocate the amount of your payment equal to the Total Minimum Payment Due to any Custom Pay Plan Payment due, then to the lowest APR balances in turn (including transactions made after this statement). Payment amounts in excess of your Total Minimum Payment Due will be applied to balances with higher APRs before balances with lower APRs, and finally to any Custom Pay Plan balances. IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT PAYMENTS BY PHONE - When using the optional Pay-by-Phone service, you authorize us to initiate an electronic payment from your account at the financial institution you designate. You must authorize the amount and timing of each payment. For your protection, we will ask for security information. To cancel, call us before the scheduled payment date. Same-day payments cannot be edited or canceled. YOUR CREDIT LINES - The Total Credit Line is the amount of credit available for the account; however, only a portion of that is available for Bank Cash Advances. The Cash Credit Line is that amount you have available for Bank Cash Advances. Generally, Bank Cash Advances consist of ATM Cash Advances, Over the Counter (OTC) Cash Advances, Same-Day Online Cash Advances, Overdraft Protection Cash Advances, Cash Equivalents, and applicable transaction fees. CALCULATION OF BALANCES SUBJECT TO INTEREST RATE Average Daily Balance Method (including new Purchases): We calculate separate Balances Subject to an Interest Rate for Purchases and for each Introductory or Promotional Offer balance consisting of Purchases by: (1) calculating a daily balance for each day in the current billing cycle; (2) adding all the daily balances together; and (3) dividing the sum of the daily balances by the number of days in the current billing cycle. To calculate the daily balance for each day in the current billing cycle, we: (1) take the beginning balance less any Purchases assigned to an existing Custom Pay Plan; (2) add an amount equal to the applicable Daily Periodic Rate multiplied by the previous day's daily balance; (3) add new Purchases, new Account Fees, and new Transaction Fees; (4) subtract Purchases assigned to a new Custom Pay Plan; and (5) subtract applicable payments and credits. If any daily balance is less than zero we treat it as zero. Average Balance Method (including new Balance Transfers and new Cash Advances): We calculate separate Balances Subject to an Interest Rate for Balance Transfers, Cash Advances, and for each Introductory or Promotional Offer balance consisting of Balance Transfers or Cash Advances by: (1) calculating a daily balance for each day in the current billing cycle; (2) calculating a daily balance for each day prior to the current billing cycle that had a Pre-Cycle balance - a "Pre-Cycle balance" is a Balance Transfer or Cash Advance with a posting date prior to the current billing cycle but with a posting date within the current billing cycle; (3) adding all the daily balances together; and (4) dividing the sum of the daily balances by the number of days in the current billing cycle. To calculate the daily balance for each day in the current billing cycle, we: (1) take the beginning balance; (2) add an amount equal to the applicable Daily Periodic Rate multiplied by the previous day's daily balance; (3) add new Balance Transfers, Cash Advances and Transaction Fees; and (4) subtract applicable payments and credits. If any daily balance is less than zero, we treat it as zero. To calculate a daily balance for each day prior to the current billing cycle that had a Pre-Cycle balance, we: (1) take the beginning balance attributable solely to a Pre-Cycle balance (which will be zero on the transaction date associated with the first Pre-Cycle balance); (2) add an amount equal to the applicable Daily Periodic Rate multiplied by the previous day's daily balance; and (3) add only the applicable Pre-Cycle balances, and their related Transaction Fees. We exclude from this calculation all transactions posted in previous billing cycles. MISCELLANEOUS - Promotional Rate End Date: This date is based on a future statement closing date. If you change your Payment Due Date, this date could change. The New Balance Total which appears on this statement is not a payoff amount and may be subject to additional interest charges when you pay in full after your statement closing date. Virtual cards are the digital form of your eligible physical credit cards stored within a digital wallet. For the complete terms and conditions of your account, consult your Credit Card Agreement. This account is issued and administered by Bank of America. Bank of America is a registered trademark of Bank of America Corporation. ©2025 Bank of America Corporation PAYMENTS - We credit mailed payments as of the date received, if the payment is: (1) received by 5 p.m. local time at the address shown on the remittance portion of your monthly statement; (2) paid with a check drawn in U.S. dollars on a U.S. financial institution or a U.S. dollar money order; and (3) sent in the return envelope with only the remittance portion of your statement accompanying it. However, mailed payments need not be sent in a return envelope if we sent you a statement without a return envelope. Payments received by mail after 5 p.m. local time at the remittance address on any day including the Payment Due Date, but that otherwise meet the above requirements, will be credited as of the next day. Payments made online or by phone by 11:59 p.m. ET will be credited as of the date they are made. Credit for any other payments may be delayed up to five days. Cash payments made with our tellers will only be accepted with valid identification. No payment, including those marked with paid in full or with any other restrictive words, shall operate as an accord and satisfaction without the prior written approval of one of our senior officers. We process most payment checks electronically by using the information found on your check. When you provide a check as payment, you authorize us to use information from your check to make a one-time electronic fund transfer from your account (or process it as a check or paper draft). When we use information from your check to make an electronic fund transfer, funds may be withdrawn from your account as soon as the same day we receive your payment. Checks are not returned to you. If you have authorized us to pay your bill automatically from your savings or checking account with us, you can stop the payment on any amount you think is wrong. To stop payment, you must contact us at least three business days before the automatic payment is scheduled to occur. Change of Address/Phone number: Online at www.bankofamerica.com Please do not add any written communication in this space. Transactions <table> <tr> <th>Transaction Date</th> <th>Posting Date</th> <th>Description</th> <th>Reference Number</th> <th>Account Number</th> <th>Amount</th> <th>Total</th> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="6"><b>Interest Charged</b></td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>11/19</td> <td>11/19</td> <td>INTEREST CHARGED ON PURCHASES</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>97.10</td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>11/19</td> <td>11/19</td> <td>INTEREST CHARGED ON BALANCE TRANSFERS</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>0.00</td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>11/19</td> <td>11/19</td> <td>INTEREST CHARGED ON DIR DEP&CHK CASHADV</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>0.00</td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>11/19</td> <td>11/19</td> <td>INTEREST CHARGED ON BANK CASH ADVANCES</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>0.00</td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="6"><b>TOTAL INTEREST CHARGED FOR THIS PERIOD</b></td> <td>$97.10</td> </tr> </table> <table> <tr> <th>Total fees charged in 2025</th> <th>$229.00</th> </tr> <tr> <th>Total interest charged in 2025</th> <th>$931.76</th> </tr> </table> Interest Charge Calculation Your Annual Percentage Rate (APR) is the annual interest rate on your account. <table> <tr> <th>Type of Balance</th> <th>Annual Percentage Rate</th> <th>Promotional Transaction Type</th> <th>Promotional Offer ID</th> <th>Promotional Rate End Date</th> <th>Balance Subject to Interest Rate</th> <th>Interest Charges by Transaction Type</th> </tr> <tr> <td>Purchases</td> <td>26.74%V</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>$4,275.49</td> <td>$97.10</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Balance Transfers</td> <td>26.74%V</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>$0.00</td> <td>$0.00</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Direct Deposit and Check Cash Advances</td> <td>28.49%V</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>$0.00</td> <td>$0.00</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Bank Cash Advances</td> <td>28.49%V</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>$0.00</td> <td>$0.00</td> </tr> </table> APR Type Definitions Daily Interest Rate Type: V= Variable Rate (rate may vary) Important Messages You're a valued customer and we want you to know that we haven't received your current payment due. Please send your payment due today. If you've already mailed it, thank you. Your statement balance exceeds the Total Credit Line. To ensure uninterrupted use of your account, please make a payment to bring your balance under the Total Credit Line. There is no fee for being over your Total Credit Line. When this statement was created, the account's Credit Line was in a restricted status and not available for use. You can request a copy of this statement in either Braille or Large Print by calling 800.432.1000 or going to bankofamerica.com and enter Visually Impaired Access from the home page. Your Reward Summary <table> <tr> <th>.00</th> <th>Base Cash Back Earned</th> </tr> <tr> <th>.00</th> <th>Total Cash Back Available</th> </tr> </table> Make the most of your rewards program today! A STORY 250 YEARS IN THE MAKING THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION A FILM BY KEN BURNS, SARAH BOTSTEIN & DAVID SCHMIDT See The American Revolution through the lens of Ken Burns in this exploration of the people, events and imagination that became a nation. Only on PBS starting Sun Nov 16 8/7c Learn more at bankofamerica.com/KenBurns
Disclaimer: This content is sourced from publicly available court records. Crazy Civil Court is an entertainment platform and does not provide legal advice. We are not lawyers. All information is presented as-is from public filings.