Wells Fargo & Co.’s admission that it created more than 2 million false customer accounts has sparked significant reaction since it agreed, in early September, to pay $185 million in fines to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the city of Los Angeles.
The bank was sharply criticized in congressional hearings. Law enforcement authorities, including the U.S. Department of Justice, have begun further investigations. Private suits have been filed. The CEO, John Stumpf, resigned and has agreed to forego $41 million of unvested options. The head of the community banking division has been forced to retire early and give up $19 million in options.
