Bank of America Corp. must face claims by homeowners that it took kickbacks from private insurers, a judge has ruled.

U.S. District Judge Berle Schiller in Philadelphia denied the bank’s request to toss the suit because the statute of limitations applies.

Homeowners who sued should have the chance to develop their argument that the claims be allowed because the bank intentionally concealed its behavior, Schiller said in a ruling Thursday.

Three Pennsylvania homeowners sued Bank of America last year, claiming its pay-to-play reinsurance scheme cost borrowers $284.7 million between 2004 and the end of 2011. That’s the sum the bank allegedly collected from private mortgage insurers as its share of insurance premiums for referring borrowers, the complaint said.