U.S. banks try to clean up remaining mortgage mess
WASHINGTON — U.S. banks have taken another step to clear away the wreckage of the 2008 financial crisis by agreeing to pay $8.5 billion to settle charges that they wrongfully foreclosed on millions of homeowners. The deal announced Monday could compensate hundreds of thousands of Americans whose homes were seized because of abuses such as […]
Wells Fargo’s deal with Justice Dept. grows after review
Residents of Baltimore and seven other cities will share an extra $60 million in compensation from Wells Fargo Bank N.A., according to a document filed Wednesday in the Justice Department’s civil lawsuit against the lender. The money stems from an internal review Wells Fargo agreed to undertake as part of the historic $125 million settlement […]
Mortgage comeback? Citigroup isn’t so sure
NEW YORK — Citigroup isn’t as enthusiastic as its peers about a comeback in the housing market. On Friday, executives at Wells Fargo and JPMorgan Chase declared that the long-struggling market had turned a corner. On Monday, Citigroup’s top number-cruncher said he wasn’t so sure. In a conference call with reporters after the bank released […]
Homebuilder confidence surges to 6-year high
Confidence among U.S. homebuilders rose this month to its highest level in six years and many expect the housing recovery will strengthen in the next six months. The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo builder sentiment index released Tuesday increased to 40 in September. That’s up from 37 in August and the highest reading since […]
Frederick gives $100K to help Wells Fargo expand
FREDERICK — Frederick County is giving $100,000 to help Wells Fargo expand in the area, saying the company has many jobs. The Frederick News-Post reports the county is giving a 10 percent match to a $1 million fund for the company to expand. The commissioners said in a statement that the county and state became […]
Joe Nathanson: Better service oversight a priority for Wells
He runs an organization with an annual budget of just under $1 billion. He’s responsible for the activities of 3,200 employees.
Homebuilder confidence at 5-year-high in August
U.S. homebuilders grew more confident in the housing recovery in August, as many reported that prospects for sales are the best they’ve been since the home bubble burst five years ago. The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo builder sentiment index released Wednesday rose two points this month to 37, up from 35 in July. […]
Editorial: A lawsuit worth pursuing
Four years ago, the city of Baltimore filed a federal lawsuit against Wells Fargo, contending that the city had lost property tax revenue amid a rising demand for municipal services because of foreclosures caused by the bank’s discriminatory lending practices.
Vote set on writing bank settlement into Calif. law
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California will become the first state to write into law much of the national mortgage settlement negotiated this year with the nation’s top five banks, if state lawmakers approve wide-ranging legislation on Monday. Majority Democrats say they have the votes to send the homeowner protection package to Gov. Jerry Brown despite opposition […]
US builder confidence ticks up to 5-year high
WASHINGTON (AP) — Confidence among U.S. builders ticked up this month to a five-year high, an indication that the housing market is slowly improving. The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo builder sentiment index rose in June to 29, the highest reading since May 2007. It increased from a reading of 28 last month, which […]
Hancock joins Embrace Home Loans
Laura Hancock has joined Embrace Home Loans as a senior loan officer in its Towson office. Hancock adds to the Embrace team more than 15 years of experience in home lending. She most recently worked at Wells Fargo, where she received multiple industry and corporate awards, and she recorded the highest purchase volume in the […]
Closing bank account will cost you, group finds
Want to close your bank account? It could cost you as much as $55. In a survey of the practices of the 10 largest banks in the country — including JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Citibank and Wells Fargo — policy and advocacy group Consumers Union found that people who want to close their accounts […]