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Financial Services Law Insights and Observations

SEC Charges Bank for Understating Auto Loan Losses

Auto Finance SEC

Securities

On April 24, the SEC released an order charging a financial institution and two senior executives for allegedly understating millions of dollars in auto loan losses during the period leading up to the financial crisis. The SEC stated that an investigation identified an alleged failure by the institution to incorporate internal loss forecasts into financial reporting, resulting in the institution understating loan loss expense. The institution did not admit the allegations, but agreed to pay $3.5 million to resolve the charges. The SEC also alleged that the two executives caused the understatements by deviating from established policies and procedures and failing to implement proper internal controls for determining its loan loss expense. The two executives did not admit the allegations, but agreed to pay a combined $135,000 to resolve the investigation, and to cease and desist from committing or causing any violations of the relevant federal securities laws.