The Justice Department recently filed discrimination charges against Wells Fargo Bank, saying they steered African-American and Hispanic borrowers towards subprime mortgages or other mortgages with higher fees than white borrowers with similar credit scores. Wells Fargo agreed to pay $175 million to compensate borrowers who were wrongly forced into more expensive mortgages. The claims are violations of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and the Fair Housing Act.
Unfair lending was identified in 82 geographic markets, in 36 different states. In Miami, approximately 4,100 borrowers were victims of higher borrowing costs between 2004 and 2008. In July, Wells Fargo announced it would stop doing business with independent mortgage brokers through its wholesale channel. From the payout $125 million will compensate consumers who were affected by the practices. The Justice Department said Miami would receive approximately $10 million. The remaining $50 million will assist homebuyers with down payments in various cities.
To read more on this story visit: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/07/12/2893222/wells-fargo-pays-175-million-to.html
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