Bank of America Faces A $250M Penalty

Federal Regulators ordered Bank of America to pay over $250 million in fines and refunds after it was discovered that the bank systematically overcharged customers, withheld promised bonuses, and opened accounts without customer approval. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau found that the bank had repeatedly charged customers $35 overdraft fees on the same transaction, resulting in substantial additional revenue for the bank. Starting in 2012, Bank of America employees enrolled customers in credit card accounts without their consent, obtaining credit reports without permission. As part of the settlement, Bank of America will pay restitution to affected customers, fines of $90 million to the CFPB, and $60 million to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.