Wells Fargo Fined for Failing to Supervise Representative’s Excessive and Unsuitable Trading
Wells Fargo submitted a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent (AWC) to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) in which they allegedly failed to supervise a registered representative who excessively and unsuitably traded in three trust accounts belonging to a senior customer in violation of NASD Rule 3010(a) and FINRA Rules 3110(a) and 2010. Between March 2012 and March 2016, a Wells Fargo registered representative placed more than 2,000 trades in three trust accounts belonging to an 88-year-old customer. According to the FINRA findings, Wells Fargo used a computer program to identify red flags of unsuitable trading using risk-based criteria and the written supervisory procedures required the Firm to conduct customer interviews to address these red flags. The findings stated the program flagged the accounts for high velocity 40 times in which Wells Fargo failed to address. As a result of the excessive trading, the customer paid at least $300,000 in commissions and other fees. Following its investigation, the Firm discharged the registered representative responsible for the accounts.
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