UK Financial Watchdog Fines Bank of Scotland For Fraud Failures
June 21 2019 - 5:15AM
Dow Jones News
By Adam Clark
Lloyds Banking Group PLC's (LLOY.LN) Bank of Scotland arm has
been fined 45.5 million pounds ($57.3 million) for failing to
disclose information about suspicions of fraud at one of its
branches.
The U.K.'s Financial Conduct Authority said Friday that Bank of
Scotland failed to alert regulators and the police about suspicions
of fraud at its Reading branch, delaying the subsequent
investigations.
"There is no evidence anyone properly addressed their mind to
this matter or its consequences. The result risked substantial
prejudice to the interests of justice, delaying scrutiny of the
fraud by regulators, the start of criminal proceedings as well as
the payment of compensation to customers," the FCA said.
Lloyds has already paid out more than GBP96 million pounds in
compensation to customers who were victims of fraud by staff at
HBOS Reading between 2003 and 2007. Lloyds acquired HBOS in early
2009 and the FCA said its investigation focused on actions prior to
the deal.
The regulator said HBOS first identified suspicious conduct in
early 2007 but failed to understand the significance of the
situation and only provided full disclosure in July 2009, which
subsequently led to a criminal investigation. Six individuals were
convicted in 2017.
Bank of Scotland received a 30% discount on its fine in exchange
for early settlement, which would otherwise have led to a GBP65
million penalty.
Write to Adam Clark at adam.clark@dowjones.com;
@AdamDowJones
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
June 21, 2019 05:00 ET (09:00 GMT)
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