Now at the center of media buzz over her call for a "Bank Transfer Day" on Nov. 5 to benefit credit unions, the 27-year-old owner of a small Los Angles art shop insisted Tuesday she got involved in the project to "get a message out to young people about choices" but that her online role is being wrongly misconstrued as "some kind of terrorist."

Kristen Christian, who runs Le Spec Gallery, said ever since her proposal to close her Bank of America account and switch to a credit union was picked up on the viral blogs last week she received numerous calls "from many credit union people—tellers and managers" as well as trade organizations about her cause.

Christian said she become motivated to "do something to help educate" those of her generation as well as those "of my mother's age" on megabank practices after seeing TV reports of New York police cracking down on "Occupy Wall Street" protesters.