Wells Fargo to pay $2.09 billion fine over loan quality: Justice Department

(Reuters) — Wells Fargo & Co. will pay $2.09 billion in penalty for alleged misrepresentation of loan quality, the U.S. Department of Justice said Wednesday.

The fine is for alleged origination and sale of residential mortgage loans that the lender knew contained misstated income information and did not meet the quality that Wells Fargo represented, the department said in its statement.

“Today’s agreement holds Wells Fargo responsible for originating and selling tens of thousands of loans that were packaged into securities and subsequently defaulted,” said Alex G. Tse, acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California.

Wells Fargo could not be immediately reached for comment.