Report: US banks subject of money-laundering probe - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

A published report says regulators are investigating whether several major U.S. banks failed to monitor transactions properly, allowing criminals to launder money.

The New York Times report over the weekend cited officials speaking on condition of anonymity.

The newspaper reports the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the federal agency that oversees the biggest banks, is leading the money-laundering investigation. The report said the OCC could soon take action against JPMorgan Chase & Co., and that it is also investigating Bank of America Corp. Money laundering allows people to make money - often obtained illegally - appear like it came from another source.

The OCC didn't immediately comment. JPMorgan and Bank of America declined to comment.

The financial industry is struggling to mend its public image. Four years after the financial crisis, banks are getting closer scrutiny. And regulators are under pressure to show that they're not missing any questionable activity.

This summer, British bank Barclays PLC settled charges that it had manipulated a key global interest rate. Standard Chartered PLC, also based in the U.K., agreed to settle charges that it had improperly processed money for Iran.

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