WASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve Board announced an $8.6 million fine against Citigroup Friday, alleging deficiencies in how a subsidiary prepared certain mortgage-related documents in 2015.
The Fed order specifically targeted affidavits that were prepared by employees of CitiFinancial — in connection with the subsidiary's exiting the mortgage servicing business — that contained information about the owner of mortgage notes.
From January 2015 through August 2015, the order said, employees executed affidavits in which affiants based assertions on “personal knowledge” or a “review … of the relevant books and records.” However, “in certain cases, the signer was not in a position to have personal knowledge or review the relevant books and records,” the order said.
During that same time period, the order stated, certain affidavits were not properly notarized.
In 2014, Citi had begun the process of unwinding CitiFinancial's servicing business following the release of a 2011 consent order requiring the two companies to address certain mortgage servicing deficiencies. CitiFinancial's exit from the mortgage servicing business was completed in 2017.
The Fed in 2012 had fined Citigroup based on the “unsafe and unsound” conduct that was the subject of the consent order.
As part of Friday's announcement, the Fed also said it was terminating the 2011 consent order.
Citi issued a statement Friday saying the company "is pleased to have resolved these matters."
"The affidavit issue was self-reported, swiftly corrected and did not affect homeowners,” the statement said.
