Why don't penalties for fraudulent or criminal practices START at 100% of all revenue generated by such prectices and go up from there? If the only penalty for stealing $1,000 was a $10 fine, I'd just keep stealing - why are companies expected to do otherwise?
According to the article, that’s what happened. They paid back the $103 million of fraudulent overdrafts and a $150 million fine on top of that as punishment.
there was a royal commission in australia into the banking industry, and there were a LOT of changes recently. probably about 2 years ago now. they're not allowed to charge exhorbitant fees anymore. the US needs one of those, or the equivalent.
They really don't care about jail time that much easier. A couple of years of jail for 40 million? Sure.
The fine sould start out at 100% or more the profit from doing the crime.
A criminal act should also make the executives personal assets fully liable. The fine is paid out of the personal wealth of all executives involved in the crime first, combined with a mandatory termination of employment. Then out of any stock buybacks, dividends other payments to stockholders second. The finally out of company assets.
Basically follow the rules or face severe financial consequences for anyone who stands to profit from it.
Google tells me BofA's net worth is around $228-billion, so these fines and refunds add up to about 1/10th of 1% of the company's value.
What does the bank get for that money? No charges against anyone involved in at least tens of thousands of felonies, which seem quite similar to many thousands of earlier felonies nobody at the bank was charged with, in 2014 and 2022.
If I committed tens of thousands of felonies, repeatedly, could I get BofA's deal? I'm worth about $5,000, including my life savings and everything I own, so I'd have to pay a $5 fine.
I love my Credit Union.
Been a victim of Wells Fargo in the past and it was delightful finally closing my accounts with them years ago.
Haven't looked back. Haven't had any weird fees since.
Unfortunately, this still seems like a drop in the bucket vs. what they made off with.
I implore anyone with a banking account with a corporate bank to switch to a nearby credit union or AT LEAST look into it.. Ive been a customer at 3 credit unions and all have been great experiences. I cannot say the same about my Bank of America experience from 15 years ago that pushed me over to CUs.