Provident Bancorp in Amesbury, Mass., is being investigated by the Securities and Exchange Commission over disclosures it made tied to its cryptocurrency dealings.
The $1.6 billion-asset Provident disclosed in a regulatory filing that it received a “Wells Notice” from the staff of the SEC’s Boston regional office tied to disclosures about loans made to crypto mining companies.
Provident noted in its filing that it stopped lending to crypto miners in October 2022. It reported a material weakness in its financial controls on Jan. 17, 2023.
The filing noted that a Wells Notice does not allege wrongdoing and allows Provident to address the issues raised before the SEC’s staff makes any recommendations about enforcement actions.
“The Wells Notice indicates that the staff’s recommendation to the … may involve a civil injunction action or other action allowed by law, and may seek remedies that include an injunction, disgorgement, pre-judgment interest, civil money penalties, and such other relief as may be available,” the filing said.