Wells Fargo gets 2015 regulatory order lifted

Wells Fargo gets 2015 regulatory order lifted
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency terminated an order related to add-on products, in another sign of progress for CEO Charlie Scharf's efforts to turn the bank around.
JAN 21, 2022

Wells Fargo & Co. got another regulatory order lifted, the latest sign of progress for Chief Executive Charlie Scharf’s quest to turn around the scandal-plagued bank. 

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency terminated a 2015 order over add-on products that Wells Fargo improperly sold to customers, according to a statement Thursday. 

“Wells Fargo’s top priority is building a risk and control infrastructure appropriate for its size and complexity,” the San Francisco-based bank, which stopped selling the products in 2017, said in a separate statement. “The termination of the 2015 consent order is a step in this work, as the company continues to focus on resolving legacy regulatory issues.”

The order was put in place before the firm’s scandals erupted in 2016 with the revelation that employees opened millions of fake accounts to meet sales goals. Wells Fargo’s regulatory problems multiplied in subsequent years and nine public orders still remain in place, including a costly asset cap from the Federal Reserve. 

This is the second OCC action that has been terminated under Scharf, and a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau order expired last year. Still, the firm was handed a fresh sanction from the OCC in September and Scharf has repeatedly said that, while he believes the bank is making progress, there will continue to be “setbacks.”

Latest News

Stratos Wealth Holdings closes 11 acquisitions in push for advisory scale
Stratos Wealth Holdings closes 11 acquisitions in push for advisory scale

RIA aggregator adds $4.8 billion in client assets across seven states as demand grows for alternatives to traditional succession models.

Beyond wealth management: Why the future of advice is becoming more human
Beyond wealth management: Why the future of advice is becoming more human

As technical expertise becomes increasingly commoditized, advisors who can integrate strategy, relationships, and specialized expertise into a cohesive client experience will define the next era of wealth management

Shareholder sues FS KKR Capital board, alleges NAV and dividend cover-up
Shareholder sues FS KKR Capital board, alleges NAV and dividend cover-up

Shareholder targets FS KKR Capital's directors over alleged portfolio valuation and dividend missteps.

UBS loses $1.2 million arbitration claim linked to variable annuities and margin
UBS loses $1.2 million arbitration claim linked to variable annuities and margin

UBS has a history of costly litigation stemming from the sale of volatile investment products.

'We are monitoring the situation,' SEC says of private funds
'We are monitoring the situation,' SEC says of private funds

New director David Woodcock puts firms on notice over fees, conflicts, and liquidity risk as private credit shows signs of stress.

SPONSORED Beyond wealth management: Why the future of advice is becoming more human

As technical expertise becomes increasingly commoditized, advisors who can integrate strategy, relationships, and specialized expertise into a cohesive client experience will define the next era of wealth management

SPONSORED Durability over scale: What actually defines a great advisory firm

Growth may get the headlines, but in my experience, longevity is earned through structure, culture, and discipline