美國大銀行須再向社區支付鉅額救濟金

Big banks will have to offer billions of dollars more in relief to the communities hardest hit by the financial crisis, as US authorities demand new terms for settling claims of mortgage sales abuses.

由於美國當局就解決抵押貸款不當銷售的賠償問題提出新條款，多家大銀行將再向遭受金融危機衝擊最嚴重的社區支付數十億美元救濟金。

The Department of Justice and Department of Housing and Urban Development are adding provisions aimed at directing aid to distressed areas and community redevelopment efforts as they resolve outstanding investigations into mortgage sale abuses.

美國司法部(DoJ)和美國住宅與城市發展部(Department of Housing and Urban Development)努力爲懸而未決的抵押貸款不當銷售調查劃上句號，增加了一些新條款，旨在把援助引導至較困難的地區，服務於社區再發展。

The change of focus comes as US officials move closer to a record $16bn-plus deal with Bank of America over mis-selling mortgage securities that would push as much as $7bn to homeowners, people familiar with the matter have said.

與此同時，知情人士表示，美國官員接近與美國銀行(BofA)就不當銷售抵押貸款證券問題，達成一項金額達到創紀錄的逾160億美元的協議，其中70億美元將支付給房主。

Including the BofA deal, banks will have paid $59bn in fines and consumer relief since the crisis to settle mortgage cases, according to FT research. At least seven other banks remain under investigation for mis-selling mortgage securities.

英國《金融時報》研究顯示，包括美國銀行的該和解協議，各銀行自金融危機以來爲解決抵押貸款訴訟案而支付的罰金和消費者救濟金總共將達590億美元。目前，起碼還有7家銀行仍在因不當銷售抵押貸款證券問題而接受調查。

“We want to focus on lower to moderate income borrowers to make sure we’re getting at the smaller loans. So many years after the crisis there are still so many homeowners that are struggling,” said a DoJ official.

“我們關注中低收入借款人，以確保我們能觸及那些較低額度的貸款。金融危機過了這麼多年，仍有這麼多房主處境艱難，”一位司法部官員表示。

Authorities are trying to direct relief to poorer neighbourhoods after criticism that buyers of higher-priced homes received too much of the mortgage relief set aside under 2012’s $20bn agreement between authorities and five financial institutions accused of improper foreclosures.

當局正努力把救濟金引導至較爲貧窮的社區，此前他們遭到批評：根據2020年與被控不當收回房產的5家銀行達成的200億美元協議而劃撥的抵押貸款救濟金，有太大的比例流入了購買較高檔房屋的業主手中。