Compliance & Ethics

Consulting Firms to Pay $11.3M for Cybersecurity Lapses in Federal Contract

Guidehouse Inc. and its subcontractor Nan McKay and Associates have agreed to pay $11.3 million to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by failing to meet cybersecurity testing requirements for a system used to process pandemic rental assistance applications in New York.

OCC Announces Enforcement Actions Against Banks in June

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) took a series of enforcement actions against national banks, federal savings associations, and individuals formerly affiliated with OCC-supervised institutions, according to details released by the regulator on Friday.

FINRA Fines GlobaLink Securities $200K for Unfair Pricing, Best Execution Failures

GlobaLink Securities Inc., a broker-dealer based in Pasadena, California, has agreed to pay a $200,000 fine and make restitution of nearly $400,000 to customers to settle charges by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) related to unfair pricing and best execution practices.

Federal Reserve Board Cracks Down on Arkansas Bank Over Fintech Compliance Lapses

The Federal Reserve Board and Arkansas state regulators have taken formal enforcement action against Evolve Bancorp, Inc. and its subsidiary Evolve Bank & Trust over deficient risk management and compliance controls related to the bank's fintech partnership business model.

Hedge Funds to Pay $2.25 Million for Failing to Disclose Work With Short Sellers

The Securities and Exchange Commission announced settled charges against hedge funds Anson Funds Management LP and Anson Advisors Inc. for misleading investors about their relationships and arrangements with activist short sellers.

President Biden Nominates Top Financial Regulators, Law Enforcement Veterans

President Joe Biden nominated several experienced attorneys and law enforcement officials to fill key regulatory roles overseeing the banking, securities, and insurance industries. The nominees bring decades of expertise in areas like financial fraud investigations, corporate compliance, and consumer protection.

PCAOB Advances Major Updates to Auditing Rules & Enforcement Powers

The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) took major action this week to modernize its auditing standards and strengthen accountability measures for audit deficiencies that put investors at risk.