MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

It’s Official: Wells Fargo to Pay $1 Billion Fine

Wells Fargo has consented to pay federal regulators $1 billion to settle charges pertaining to sales of automotive collateral protection insurance and mortgage interest rate-lock extensions.

Tariq Kamal
Tariq KamalFormer Associate Publisher
Read Tariq's Posts
April 20, 2018
It’s Official: Wells Fargo to Pay $1 Billion Fine

 

2 min to read


Wells Fargo will pay $1 billion to settle charges pertaining to the sale of two products to auto- and home-loan customers. Photo by Laimerpramer via Wikimedia Commons

SAN FRANCISCO — Wells Fargo has officially entered into $1 billion worth of consent orders with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). At issue are collateral protection insurance (CPI) for auto loans and interest rate-lock extensions for home buyers.

As many as 570,000 car buyers who financed their purchases through Wells Fargo from 2012 to 2017 were erroneously charged for CPI under a policy that called for the bank to purchase comprehensive and collision insurance if a customer failed to do so. For as many as 20,000 such customers, failure to pay the charge may have triggered a repossession.

As many as 110,000 Wells Fargo mortgage customers were charged a late fee for purchasing interest rate-lock extensions after their initial interest rate expired. In 2016, four former employees blew the whistle, alleging the bank caused the delays. Their claims were backed by findings from an internal review.

The fine does not address the ongoing investigation into Wells Fargo’s sale of guaranteed asset protection (GAP).

News of the $1 billion figure overshadowed the bank’s first-quarter earnings call earlier this month. President and CEO Tim Sloan struck an upbeat tone throughout the April 13 meeting with investors, even as the bank reported diminished originations and performance on its auto lending business, including the sale of its Puerto Rican Subsidiary, Reliable Financial Services, to San Juan-based Banco Popular.

In a press release announcing the $1 billion fine, Sloan said he and his team of executives and managers are “committed” to putting past and present scandals behind them and ushering Wells Fargo into a new era of transparency and good corporate citizenry.

“For more than a year and a half, we have made progress on strengthening operational processes, internal controls, compliance and oversight, and delivering on our promise to review all of our practices and make things right for our customers,” he said. “While we have more work to do, these orders affirm that we share the same priorities with our regulators and that we are committed to working with them as we deliver our commitments with focus, accountability, and transparency. Our customers deserve only the best from Wells Fargo, and we are committed to delivering that.”

More F&I

F&IJanuary 7, 2026

Resistance to the Menu

In this video, Reese Dailey of the Automotive Training Academy by Assurant explains how to handle a customer who isn’t willing to listen to your pitch.

Read More →
two-vehicle rear-end collision
F&Iby Lauren LawrenceJanuary 7, 2026

EV Collision Claims Spike

Third-quarter battery electric vehicle insurance claims were up 4% year-over-year. A new report says EV claims cost the most due to complex technology and limited after-market parts supply.

Read More →
TrainingDecember 10, 2025

Accountable Is as Accountable Does

Auto dealerships work better when all staffers own their duties.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
F&Iby StaffDecember 8, 2025

Remove the Warranty

Learn how you can show your F&I customers the unmistakable value of your offering.

Read More →
F&IDecember 3, 2025

The No. 1 Enemy of F&I Success

Instead of succumbing to it, keep your skills and knowledge sharp.

Read More →
F&Iby StaffNovember 17, 2025

F&I in the Gap

The office’s offerings can make the difference for cash-strapped consumers in an unpredictable market.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
F&INovember 10, 2025

Singing a Gospel Song Backward

Crime and punishment in auto retail and how to avoid them

Read More →
F&INovember 5, 2025

One Bad Day

Trent White of the Automotive Training Academy by Assurant explains how to help customers see the high cost risk with even the most reliable vehicles.

Read More →
Industryby Hannah MitchellNovember 3, 2025

Q3 Auto Loans Reveal Stress

Data reflect growing finance activity on the extreme ends of credit risk scale

Read More →
Ad Loading...
F&Iby Hannah MitchellOctober 29, 2025

The It Factor in F&I

What this valuable trait looks like in the day-to-day work of the sector

Read More →