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OCC fines three former Wells Fargo execs a total of $18.5 million

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has fined three former Wells Fargo executives an aggregate of $18.5 million tied to the San Francisco company’s 2016 fake-accounts scandal.

The OCC fined Claudia Russ Anderson, Wells’ former community bank group risk officer, $10 million and issued her a lifetime ban from working in the banking industry. The regular claimed that she failed, from 2013 to 2016, to credibly challenge an incentive program that urged staff to open bank accounts for clients without their knowledge.

David Julian, Wells’ former chief auditor, was fined $7 million. The OCC alleged that he failed to plan and manage audit activity that would have detected and documented sales practices misconduct. The OCC also asserted that Julian failed to adequately escalate sales practices misconduct.

While an administrative law judge recommended a lifetime bank, Julian was instead ordered to cease and desist from unsafe and unsound practices and to comply with banking laws and regulations.

Finally, the OCC fined Paul McLinko, Wells’ former executive audit director, $1.5 million fine, reflecting his failure to maintain “professional independence” from the community bank. He was issued a C&D order similar to what was given to Julian.

Former CEO John Stumpf had already been hit with a $17.5 million fine, while Carrie Tolstedt, former retail banking chief, was assessed $17 million.

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