Armless Man Denied Loan Because He Can't Give Fingerprints

A man in Zhengzhou, Henan has been denied a loan — but not for the reason you'd think.

25-year-old Wu Jianping's housing loan application was denied not because he didn't have enough money, but because he was unable to provide fingerprints. 

According to People's Daily, Wu lost both his arms at the age of five after severe electric shock. He normally signs documents by holding a pen in his mouth.

Wu applied for loans at several banks earlier this month, but was rejected across the board. Employees at the banks said that without fingerprints, his signature would not be legally binding.

"This is a standard procedure, because handwriting can be imitated," one banker was quoted as saying, according to The Paper. "Fingerprints are absolutely impossible to imitate."

In response, Wu took his story to the media. The inicident triggered outrage online, with Chinese netizens criticizing the banks for their unreasonable demands. 

"This rigid work 'principle' is simply extreme dogmatism, their attitude is not correct," wrote one People's Daily commenter.

In response to the outrage, a number of banks reversed their decisions. Zhengzhou's housing management bureau also told The Paper that paths are available to help people with special needs like Wu.

[Images via China Daily, The Paper]