Five former and current employees have filed a lawsuit, seeking class-action status, against Bank of America Corp.

The black employees are accusing the Charlotte, N.C.-based bank of teaming African-American workers together on the regular basis, assigning them work in largely minority neighborhoods and with low net-worth clients.

According to the lawsuit, which was filed today in the U.S. District Court in Boston and covers matters that took place from 2003 to the present, when the plaintiffs complained about the alleged unfair practices, BofA [ticker: BAC] said it believed that clients were more “comfortable” dealing with bankers and brokers of their own race.

The suit seeks termination of the bank’s improper practices, owed back pay, and compensatory and punitive damages.

Currently, Merrill Lynch & Co. is also battling a racial discrimination suit in Chicago filed by African-American brokers and trainees.