WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Treasury Department said Tuesday that it’s imposing $1.2 billion in fines on Bank of America for allegedly violating anti-money laundering and sanctions laws.

The fines on America’s second-biggest bank amount to the third-largest in the department’s history.

“When a bank of this size fails to meet its anti-money laundering and sanctions obligations, the consequences extend far beyond its own walls, exposing the entire U.S. financial system to significant illicit finance risks,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement. “Today’s actions send a clear message that even the biggest financial institutions are not above the law.”

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[–] 61 points 3 weeks ago (3 children)

I'm shocked that they are still doing these types of things. I expected the bank's executives would've been able to settle their differences with Treasury officials over a glass of wine and a few million donated to the Don's campaign fund.

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  • [–] 104 points 3 weeks ago (4 children)

    Whooptie Do.

    That fine represents 1% of last year's gross profit, which was $119.237B.

    Source: https://www.macrotrends.net/stocks/charts/BAC/bank-of-america/gross-profit

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  • [–] 17 points 3 weeks ago (1 child)

    Not making excuses, but gross profit doesn't account for a bunch of other business expenses. Yearly net profit is more like $30B. That makes the fine ~4%.

    The profits are still criminally high and the fine is criminally low, but it should be compared to net.

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  • [–] 38 points 3 weeks ago (1 child)

    That sounds scary, until you realize it’s pocket change for BofA, and pales in comparison to the money they will make continuing to launder money.

    Because until people are in prison for these crimes, nothing will change.

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  • [–] 36 points 3 weeks ago (9 children)

    Did they actually do money laundering? Is this some kind of vendetta by the Trump administration?

    I have no idea what to believe anymore!

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  • [–] 9 points 3 weeks ago (1 child)

    I briefly worked on AML systems at a larger bank than BOFA.

    Yeah, money laundering is a constant whackamole and occurs constantly. We caught like 40% ish in real time, another 20-30% with look backs, the rest were probably never noticed.

    Why BOFA now? Probably political or a regulator got their butt hurt.

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  • [–] 4 points 3 weeks ago

    I work for a large national bank too. Probably slightly smaller than BOA but I deal with OFAC and Sanctions regularly (in relation to real estate ownership).

    BOA knows better so either they thought they could get away with something or it’s some kind of targeted attack by Trump Admins.

    I do know of examples where a banking exec did something shady bc they thought they could get away with it.

    I actually had someone recently submit AI altered photos as evidence of required property repairs. I guarantee that wasn’t the first time we received AI images or paperwork but probably the first time we noticed.

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  • Honestly, at this point, I would not be shocked if this is some weird and fucked up Rube Goldberg money laundering scheme involving all the major parties mentioned in the article (plus orangeboi and/or members of his inner circle and the regime), because that’s just kinda par for the course these days here

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  • [–] 26 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

    Seeing as how the US is also sanctioning the ICC, who who fucking knows what this is.

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  • [–] 18 points 3 weeks ago (1 child)

    “You didn’t give Trump/GOP a cut. Pay the fine now and we’ll take a cut of that”

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  • [–] 24 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

    Oh, I get it. They refused trump back in the day and now the revenge part is kicking in. Banks are kind of grifty too so...

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  • [–] 11 points 3 weeks ago

    BofA used to have layoffs if they made less than $6 billion every QUARTER.

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  • [–] 10 points 3 weeks ago

    Trump didn't get his cut.

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  • [–] 7 points 3 weeks ago (3 children)

    what was the thing that triggered it?

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  • [–] 2 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)
  • [–] 12 points 3 weeks ago

    …but nobody goes to jail, it's just the cost of doing business

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  • [–] 6 points 3 weeks ago

    so they didn't do something Trump wanted, and they are paying the price. bonus: message to other banks.

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  • [–] 4 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

    How much do you guys think they'll actually end up paying? My bet is 14 million.

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  • [–] 3 points 3 weeks ago

    Wow... charged with Laundering money because you refused to launder Trump's money... and my bingo card is full. time to write up another one of non-repeating bulkshit Hitler Junior does.

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  • [–] 1 point 3 weeks ago

    until they bribe DRUMPF a million dollars.

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  • [–] -4 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (3 children)

    At this point anyone the orange fucktard hurts is likely a friend of the people.

    Edit: JFC do I really need an /s?

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