Attention

The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not represent our advertisers

Monday, January 07, 2013

10 BANKS AGREE TO PAY $8.5B FOR FORECLOSURE ABUSE

Ten major banks and mortgage companies agreed Monday to pay $8.5 billion to settle federal complaints that they wrongfully foreclosed on homeowners who should have been allowed to stay in their homes.

The banks, which include JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America and Wells Fargo, will pay billions to homeowners to end a review process of foreclosure files that was required under a 2011 enforcement action. The review was ordered because banks mishandled people's paperwork and skipped required steps in the foreclosure process.

Under the new settlement, people who were wrongfully foreclosed on could receive from $1,000 up to $125,000. Failing to offer someone a loan modification would be considered a lighter offense; unfairly seizing and selling a person's home would entitle that person to the biggest payment, according to guidelines released last summer by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. Monday's settlement was announced jointly by the OCC and the Federal reserve.

More 

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

The big question is where will that money wind up?

Anonymous said...

The review was ordered because banks mishandled people's paperwork and skipped required steps in the foreclosure process.

New kids in a hurry to make a buck and a name for themselves?