Consumer complaint received 2025-01-16 00:00:00
Product: Student loan — Private student loan
Issue: Dealing with your lender or servicer — Received bad information about your loan
Company: WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
State: PA

Complaint narrative:
Comprehensive CFPB Complaint Against Wells Fargo & Company : Systemic Fraud, Regulatory Violations, and Collusion with Third Parties 1. Executive Summary This complaint details Wells Fargo & Companys systemic misconduct, including the fraudulent sale of a {$9.00} billion private student loan portfolio, its evasion of regulatory mandates, violations of federal and state laws, and collusion with XXXX XXXXnd XXXX. These actions, when taken together, demonstrate Wells Fargos ongoing role as a systemic risk to consumers, the financial industry, and regulatory integrity. Wells Fargos blatant disregard for compliance, coupled with potential conflicts of interest involving a Big 4 auditor now seeking authorization to practice law, amplifies the urgency for immediate regulatory intervention.

Timeline of Events : Systemic Fraud and XXXX XXXX XXXX : Wells Fargo Enables Violations Wells Fargo Bank provides a trade finance platform ( Eximbills ) to a foreign bank, enabling {$530.00} XXXX in transactions violating OFAC regulations. 
Inadequate risk management allows violations of federal sanctions, highlighting systemic compliance failures. 
XXXX : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX ), owner of the XXXX XXXX, faces widespread scrutiny for fraudulent practices. 
XXXX state Attorneys General, the Department of Education, and multiple regulatory bodies find XXXX guilty of predatory lending and misrepresentation. 
XXXX : Federal Sanctions on XXXX XXXX 's practices lead to the closure of many XXXX XXXX campuses. The Department of Education revokes XXXX 's accreditation, invalidating the private loans tied to their institutions. 
XXXX : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX division becomes defunct, leaving borrowers with fraudulent loans that were neither enforceable nor legitimate. 
XXXX : Wells Fargos Regulatory Issues Escalate Multiple consent orders from the OCC, CFPB, and Federal Reserve remain unresolved. 
Wells Fargo faces over {$3.00} XXXX in fines for unauthorized accounts, predatory lending, and mortgage-related violations. 
XXXX ( XXXX ) : COVID-19 Pandemic Begins Regulatory scrutiny temporarily diminishes as financial institutions focus on navigating pandemic-related challenges. 
Wells Fargo exploits this period to offload its {$9.00} XXXX private student loan portfolio. 
XXXX ( Late ) : Loan Portfolio Sale Wells Fargo sells its private student loan portfolio to a trust managed by XXXX, leveraging a window of regulatory transition during the change in presidential administration. 
Promissory notes tied to the loans are incomplete, invalid under the ESIGN Act, and involve fraudulently originated loans linked to XXXX. 
XXXX : XXXX  Role in Obfuscation The XXXX trust uses opaque structures to avoid accountability and hinders borrowers from obtaining relief. 
Borrowers receive minimal communication or recourse, exacerbating financial and emotional harm. 
XXXX ( XXXX ) : Federal Reserve Fines Wells Fargo Wells Fargo is fined {$67.00} XXXX for systemic compliance failures related to OFAC violations and inadequate risk management.

Present : Ongoing Regulatory Violations Wells Fargo continues to evade accountability, failing to resolve consent orders or adequately address systemic issues. 
XXXXs potential entry into legal practice raises additional concerns about conflicts of interest and collusion with Wells Fargo. 

2. Wells Fargos Sale of Fraudulent Private Student Loan Portfolios In XXXX, Wells Fargo sold a {$9.00} XXXX private student loan portfolio to a trust managed by XXXX. This transaction highlights several key violations : Fraudulent Origination : A significant portion of the loans originated from the defunct XXXX XXXX, part of XXXX, which was found guilty of violating federal and state consumer protection laws through deceptive practices. 
The Department of Education explicitly stated that loans tied to XXXX were void due to pervasive and widespread substantial misrepresentations that borrowers relied upon to their detriment. 
Violation of the Securities Act, Section 9 : Wells Fargos sale of loans as part of a securitized portfolio constitutes manipulative practices in connection with the sale of securities.

The obfuscation of the fraudulent origins of these loans represents a material misrepresentation, violating disclosure requirements.

Failure to Audit Promissory Notes : Promissory notes for the loans lack compliance with the ESIGN Act, making them legally unenforceable.

Intention

al Regulatory Evasion : The sale coincided with a change in administration and the COVID-19 pandemic, exploiting a window of weakened regulatory oversight.

3. Regulatory Noncompliance and Negligence Wells Fargo has repeatedly demonstrated a pattern of violating regulatory mandates, including but not limited to : Federal Deposit Insurance Act ( FDIA ) : Wells Fargo engaged in unsafe or unsound practices by failing to address compliance risks in its loan sales.

Truth in Lending Act ( TILA ) : Inadequate disclosures on loan terms and conditions violated TILA, further burdening borrowers with unclear or predatory obligations.

ESIGN Act : Noncompliance with electronic signature and recordkeeping standards rendered many promissory notes invalid. 
Unfair, Deceptive, or Abusive Acts or Practices ( UDAAP ) : Wells Fargo misled borrowers and regulators regarding the validity and enforceability of the loans. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX ) Violations : The Federal Reserve sanctioned Wells Fargo for processing {$530.00} XXXX in prohibited transactions, a clear example of systemic compliance failures. 
XXXX. Collusion with XXXX and XXXX XXXX Role in Obfuscation : The loans are now managed through a XXXX trust, which uses opaque structures to avoid accountability. 
Servicing practices lack transparency, hindering borrowers from accessing legitimate relief options. 
XXXXs Conflicts of Interest : XXXX, as Wells Fargos auditor, failed to identify material misrepresentations in the loan sale. 
With former XXXX executives holding key roles at XXXX, the independence of audits and regulatory compliance is highly questionable. 
XXXXs potential entry into legal practice raises the risk of further conflicts of interest, especially in regulatory enforcement contexts. 
5. Wells Fargos Long History of Misconduct Unauthorized Account Scandal : Wells Fargo created millions of fake accounts, resulting in over {$3.00} XXXX in fines and restitution. 
Mortgage and Auto Lending Scandals : Wells Fargos auto insurance practices and wrongful foreclosures demonstrate a clear pattern o

f prioritizing profit over consumer protection. Sanctions Violations : Wells Fargo violated OFAC regulations by facilitating prohibited transactions. 
Inadequate Oversight : Multiple consent orders from the OCC, CFPB, and Federal Reserve remain unresolved, highlighting Wells Fargos inability or unwillingness to comply.

6. Violations of Federal and State Laws Wells Fargos actions violate numerous statutes, including but not limited to : Securities Act, Section 9 : Prohibits manipulative practices in the sale of securities.

Truth in Lending Act ( TILA ) : Mandates clear and accurate disclosures of loan terms.

Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ) : Wells Fargos servicing practices involve harassment and misrepresentation of loan obligations.

Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act ( ESIGN Act ) : Requires proper recordkeeping for electronically signed documents.

Unfair, Deceptive, or Abusive Acts or Practices ( UDAAP ) : Wells Fargos practices meet all criteria for UDAAP violations. 
Sarbanes-Oxley Act : Failure to ensure accurate financial disclosures, especially related to securitized loans. 

7. Consumer Impact Financial Harm : Borrowers face insurmountable debt due to predatory loans.

Disproportionate Impact : Vulnerable populations, including low-income and minority borrowers, are disproportionately affected.

Emotional Distress : Harassment by servicers and lack of clear recourse exacerbate borrower stress.

8. Relief Requested To protect consumers and ensure accountability, the CFPB must : Initiate a Comprehensive Audit : Conduct a forensic audit of Wells Fargos loan portfolios, focusing on the XXXX trust. 
Mandate Loan Discharges : Discharge all loans tied to fraudulent practices or noncompliance with federal laws. 
Investigate Collusion : Examine the roles of XXXX and XXXX in perpetuating Wells Fargos misconduct.

Enforce Executive Accountability : Hold Wells Fargos executives personally accountable for enabling systemic fraud.

Enhance Oversight : Strengthen regulatory frameworks to prevent similar misconduct by large financial institutions.

9. Consumer Disclaimer Consumers affected by Wells Fargos practices are encouraged to file complaints with : Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ) Federal Trade Commission ( FTC ) Office of the Comptroller of the Currency ( OCC ) State Attorneys General XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX ) 10. Conclusion Wells Fargos systemic fraud and regulatory evasion must not go unchecked. The sale of fraudulent loans under Section 9 of the Securities Act, in collusion with XXXX and XXXX, highlights the need for immediate and decisive regulatory action. The CFPB has a critical role in holding Wells Fargo accountable and protecting consumers from further harm.

Company public response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation