U.S. Bancorp sheds consent order inherited from Union Bank (2024)

U.S. Bancorp sheds consent order inherited from Union Bank (2)

Fifteen months after completing its acquisition of MUFG Union Bank, U.S. Bancorp has been freed from a regulatory action that it inherited as part of the deal.

The consent order, which addressed problems with the Japanese-owned bank's information security and operational risk controls, was terminated earlier this week by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

Analysts at Piper Sandler described the OCC's decision as a positive development for U.S. Bancorp, though they also said in a note to clients that the enforcement action has not been a factor for the Minneapolis-based company's recent stock price.

Shares in the $663 billion-asset banking company are down 1.4% this year. The KBW Nasdaq Bank Index, which tracks the performance of large and regional banks, is up 2.2% since Jan. 1.

The OCC enacted the consent order on Sept. 20, 2021 — one day before U.S. Bank's parent company announced an $8 billion deal to acquire Union Bank from Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group.

When the OCC later gave its conditional approval for the merger, it stated that "U.S. Bank's stronger technology systems … should correct many of the underlying concerns" that led to the 2021 consent order.

The bank's sale eventually closed in December 2022, or about six months after executives initially projected. The Union Bank conversion was completed last summer, U.S. Bancorp officials have said.

The termination of the September 2021 consent order comes nine months after U.S. Bancorp agreed to settle separate allegations by the OCC that Union deceived customers about three different kinds of fees.

The alleged misconduct involved fees to certain customers who rented safe deposit boxes, charges assessed to some customers in Union's private bank program and the bank's failure to waive monthly service charges in certain situations.

The June 2023 settlement with the OCC came with a $15 million fine, but a U.S. Bank spokesperson said at the time that the company was indemnified by the Japanese banking giant that previously owned Union Bank.

When the merger was announced in 2021, U.S. Bancorp said that it expected to reduce the combined company's annual expenses by about $900 million, and that it planned to reach that target through a combination of branch and real estate consolidation, technology and systems conversion and other back-office efficiencies.

The company now says that it has achieved its $900 million target for cost savings. Those savings will help U.S. Bancorp to keep its expenses flat in 2024, and to fund investments in areas such as payments and its branch network, Chief Financial Officer John Stern said Wednesday at an investor conference.

Following a recent meeting with Stern, Jefferies analysts wrote in a note this week that the bank has an opportunity to invest in payments products and capabilities within the Union Bank footprint.

Union Bank had substantial West Coast operations, including 280 branches in California at the time the deal was announced.

"Investments will be more geared toward offense than defense moving forward," the Jefferies analysts wrote.

At an industry conference last month, U.S. Bancorp's vice chairman of consumer and business banking, Timothy Welsh, said that the penetration of payments into Union Bank's checking account base was about half of what it is at U.S. Bank.

"And so there's a tremendous upside for credit card," he said.

U.S. Bancorp sheds consent order inherited from Union Bank (2024)

FAQs

U.S. Bancorp sheds consent order inherited from Union Bank? ›

The Union Bank conversion was completed last summer, U.S. Bancorp officials have said. The termination of the September 2021 consent order comes nine months after U.S. Bancorp agreed to settle separate allegations by the OCC that Union deceived customers about three different kinds of fees.

What does a consent order mean for a Bank? ›

In general, consent orders are intended to give the financial institution a reasonable amount of time to correct its violations and demonstrate ongoing compliance with regulatory standards.

What will happen to Union Bank customers? ›

After being integrated into U.S. Bank, Union Bank customers will also gain access to thousands of branches and ATMs across the 26-state U.S. Bank branch network.

Why was Union Bank sold to U.S. Bank? ›

Union Bank is the U.S. subsidiary of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group. The deal significantly bolsters U.S. Bancorp's presence in California and provides a good deposit base. U.S. Bancorp announced the deal during a low interest rate and easier regulatory environment.

What Bank is buying Union Bank? ›

The acquisition of Union Bank of Nigeria by Titan Trust Bank followed all the laid down rules and regulations.

What is the purpose of a consent order? ›

A consent order is essentially a document that resolves a complaint with a licensing entity, whether that's a state agency or a licensing board, and puts the complaint finalized and at rest.

How to find bank consent orders? ›

You may search the FDIC ED&O database using the Search Form , which enables queries by the following Search Criteria: Order Category, Action Type, Bank City, Bank State, Order Title, Issued Date, Docket Number, and names or certain identifiers of parties to the action, whether financial institutions, affiliated ...

Why is Union Bank closing? ›

Union Bank, after a 100-plus year history in Los Angeles with especially strong ties to the Japanese community, will operate under a new name by June since it has been acquired by the parent company of U.S. Bank.

Is it safe to Bank with Union Bank? ›

Please be assured that your accounts and funds are safe, and we will continue to operate with the highest standards of transparency, integrity, compliance, and customer satisfaction as we have done in the last 107 years. Thank you for your choosing Union Bank.

What is the new name of Union Bank? ›

Following a court-ordered meeting of shareholders on the 28th of December 2023 and subsequent sanctioning of the scheme, the official merger process between Union Bank of Nigeria and Titan Trust Bank was concluded, with Union Bank of Nigeria existing as the surviving entity.

Who owns U.S. Bancorp? ›

U.S. Bancorp is a publicly traded company owned by its shareholders. Four of its five top shareholders in early 2024 were large asset management companies (Vanguard Group, BlackRock, State Street, and JPMorgan).

Who is Union Bank owned by? ›

Union Bank was an American national bank with 398 branches in California, Washington, and Oregon. It was owned by MUFG Americas Holdings Corporation and was acquired by U.S. Bancorp in December 2022.

What is the new name for U.S. Bank? ›

U.S. Bancorp Impact Finance is a new name for an integral and growing part of our business, delivering financial solutions that help meet customers' evolving needs and, in the process, helping U.S. Bank grow and meet our own commitments as a company,” said Terry Dolan, U.S. Bank chief financial officer.

Who is the real owner of Union Bank? ›

The consummation this week of a share sale and purchase deal handing 93.4 per cent stake held by a group of core investors in the more-than-a-century old Union Bank of Nigeria Plc to Titan Trust Bank Limited, means the bank is now owned by the emerging markets-focused investment firm Tropical General Investments ...

Is Fidelity bank buying Union Bank? ›

(Ecofin Agency) - Fidelity Bank Nigeria Plc has acquired Union Bank UK, supported by a $40 million intra-African investment facility from Afreximbank. The financing, announced yesterday facilitated both the acquisition and recapitalization of Union Bank UK by the Nigerian commercial bank.

What bank is Union Bank changing to? ›

US Bank officially takes over Union Bank branches including many on the Central Coast. SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - The official buyout and change of ownership is complete for US bank, which takes over Union Bank.

What is consent in banking? ›

It refers to the process of obtaining and managing consent from consumers for the collection, use, and sharing of their financial data. In Open Finance ecosystems, financial institutions and other organizations are required to implement APIs that allow consumers to manage their consent preferences for their data.

What is a consent order from the FDIC? ›

With the STIPULATION, the Bank has consented, without admitting or denying any charges of unsafe or unsound banking practices, or violations of law or regulation relating to weaknesses in the Bank's Compliance Management System (“CMS”), to the issuance of this CONSENT ORDER (“ORDER”) by the FDIC.

What is a consent form for bank payment? ›

Note: Must be completed if the Beneficiary / Applicant wants his/her grant to be paid into a Bank Account.

What is the difference between a consent order and a settlement agreement? ›

If parties agree to resolve the case with a settlement agreement, you must ensure that it is legally binding. Consent decrees are court orders, so you will have legal recourse if someone does not abide by the judgment. You will have fewer steps to take if a party does not follow the order approved by the judge.

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