BoA’s Countrywide pays $108m in FTC settlement
BANK of America Corp has agreed to pay $108m (£75m) to settle government charges that its Countrywide unit, the mortgage lender that became synonymous with risky lending practices, bilked borrowers with misleading and excessive fees.
The Federal Trade Commission said two Countrywide mortgage servicing units deceived cash-strapped homeowners by overcharging them by hundreds or thousands of dollars, sometimes when they were already in bankruptcy. The alleged activity took place before Bank of America acquired the distressed lender in 2008.
The settlement is a small win for regulators trying to hold to account those who contributed to the deep financial crisis.