diff --git a/models/user.js b/models/user.js
index d841480d8..5423c9f11 100644
--- a/models/user.js
+++ b/models/user.js
@@ -12,6 +12,12 @@ const USER_ROLES = [
   'moderator'
 ];
 
+// USER_STATUSES is the list of statuses that are permitted for the user status.
+const USER_STATUSES = [
+  'active',
+  'banned'
+];
+
 // UserSchema is the mongoose schema defined as the representation of a User in
 // MongoDB.
 const UserSchema = new mongoose.Schema({
@@ -64,7 +70,11 @@ const UserSchema = new mongoose.Schema({
 
   // Roles provides an array of roles (as strings) that is associated with a
   // user.
-  roles: [String]
+  roles: [String],
+
+  // Status provides a string that says in which state the account is.
+  // When the account is banned, the user login is disabled.
+  status: {type: String, enum: USER_STATUSES, default: 'active'}
 }, {
 
   // This will ensure that we have proper timestamps available on this model.
@@ -375,6 +385,30 @@ UserService.removeRoleFromUser = (id, role) => {
   });
 };
 
+/**
+ * Adds a role to a user.
+ * @param  {String}   id   id of a user
+ * @param  {String}   role role to add
+ * @param  {Function} done callback after the operation is complete
+ */
+UserService.setStatus = (id, status) => {
+
+  // Check to see if the user role is in the allowable set of roles.
+  if (USER_STATUSES.indexOf(status) === -1) {
+
+    // User status is not supported! Error out here.
+    return Promise.reject(new Error(`status ${status} is not supported`));
+  }
+
+  return UserModel.update({
+    id: id
+  }, {
+    $set: {
+      status: status
+    }
+  });
+};
+
 /**
  * Finds a user with the id.
  * @param {String} id  user id (uuid)
diff --git a/tests/models/user.js b/tests/models/user.js
index 056aafeed..dc3c5e960 100644
--- a/tests/models/user.js
+++ b/tests/models/user.js
@@ -63,4 +63,18 @@ describe('User: models', () => {
     });
 
   });
+
+  describe('#setStatus', () => {
+    it('should set the status to banned', () => {
+      return User
+        .setStatus(mockUsers[0].id, 'banned')
+        .then(() => {
+          User.findById(mockUsers[0].id)
+          .then((user) => {
+            expect(user).to.have.property('status')
+              .and.to.equal('banned');
+          });
+        });
+    });
+  });
 });