|
Alderman Edward Burke, who heads the Chicago City Council's
finance committee, introduced an ordinance on Friday that would
suspend the bank from acting in several capacities, including as
a municipal depository, bond underwriter and financial adviser.
"The city council should not engage in any business for the next
two years with this institution that has deceived, defrauded and
duped its customers," Burke said in a statement.
Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs set a Monday news conference
to announce "plans to suspend billions of dollars in investment
activity with Wells Fargo," according to an advisory from his
office on Friday.
Wells Fargo staff opened checking, savings and credit card
accounts without customer say-so for years to satisfy managers'
demand for new business, according to a $190 million settlement
with regulators reached on Sept. 8. The bank said it fired 5,300
employees over the issue.
On Wednesday, California State Treasurer John Chiang announced a
sweeping suspension of the state's business relationships with
Wells Fargo for the next 12 months. The bank is also under
pressure from Oregon's treasurer to reform its management
structure and executive compensation.
U.S. lawmakers called on Thursday for Wells Fargo chief John
Stumpf to resign and a top House Democrat demanded the bank be
broken up because it is too big to manage.
Chicago's finance committee is scheduled to take up the proposed
ordinance on Wednesday. The city has paid Wells Fargo $19.45
million in fees since 2005, according to the committee.
The bank served as senior underwriter on five Chicago bond
issues totaling nearly $969 million since 2006, according to
Thomson Reuters data.
Wells Fargo made the list of 15 senior underwriters tapped by
Illinois this month for bond sales over the next three years. A
spokeswoman for Governor Bruce Rauner declined to comment on
whether his office is rethinking Wells Fargo's selection.
(Reporting by Karen Pierog; Editing by Matthew Lewis)
[© 2016 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2016 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
|
