WASHINGTON (AP) – The CEO of Wells Fargo plans to apologize before a congressional panel for betraying customers’ trust in a scandal over allegations that employees opened millions of unauthorized accounts, moved money into them and signed customers up for online banking in order to meet sales targets.
In prepared testimony obtained by The Associated Press, Chief Executive John Stumpf says he is “deeply sorry” the bank failed to meet its responsibility to customers and didn’t act sooner to stem what he called “this unacceptable activity.” He testifies Tuesday before the Senate Banking Committee.
“I accept full responsibility for all unethical sales practices in our retail banking business, and I am fully committed to doing everything possible to fix this issue, strengthen our culture, and take the necessary actions to restore our customers’ trust,” according to the prepared testimony.
Wells Fargo has long been known for its aggressive sales goals, but the details and the $185 million fine that regulators imposed last week have singed the consumer banking giant’s reputation as a well-run, tightly managed company removed from the reckless conduct on Wall Street that stoked the financial crisis. Some 5,300 Wells Fargo employees have been fired.
The wide sweep of the strong-arm sales practices within the bank, which went on for years, has drawn attention from committees in both the Senate and House.