Essential Concepts About Commercial Banks And The Corresponding Ethical Issues Derived From These Concepts

In one’s professional career one might be in a situation to consider not only the ramifications of one’s ethical choice, but also how ethical one’s decision is as a whole. In my career, I have never been put in an ethical dilemma, but at a juncture in my career in the finance industry, it is possible I will. In the industry of finance, one could be in a position that enables them to embezzle, whether this is in an accounting position, a financial advisor, or even a bank teller. In each of these positions, one could be in a dilemma of considering embezzling, otherwise known as stealing. To most people stealing is clearly unethical, but it could depend upon to which ethical approach one subscribes. This paper will discuss; what options one has in this dilemma, how certain ethical approaches would guide one’s decision, and my personal opinion on which approach I would utilize.

There are various categories of banking; these include retail banking, directly dealing with small businesses and persons. Commercial and Corporate banking which offers services to medium and large businesses (Koch & MacDonald 2010). Private banking, deals with individuals, offering them one on one service. The last category is investment banking. These help clients to raise capital and often invest in financial markets. Most global banking institutions provide all these services combined. With all these institutions in existence within the same localities and offering similar services, there is a need to regulate the industry so as to protect the consumer and provide fair working environment for all banks (Du & Girma, 2011).

Banks are institutions in which people put their money for safekeeping, to save, to use to pay their bills, or to earn interest on. Banks are allowed to use that money to make loans and earn interest for the bank's’ owners. Different types of banks offer different types of services. For example, commercial banks originally just served businesses, and savings banks and credit unions were used by individuals, especially those who couldn’t qualify for loans at regular banks. This is no longer the case. Although commercial banks and thrift institutions used to serve different purposes, today they all offer many of the same types of services including bank accounts, loans, credit, certificates of deposits (CDs), and much more.

Bank of America is one of the largest banks in the nation. It is a multinational company and it is recognized by its high revenue value. Unfortunately, Bank of America has endured many complaints and harsh views regarding their lack of ethics. Ethical issues occur when there is a blatant disregard to implement integrity, trust, and responsibility. In some financial institutions, ethical matters are displayed in the way the consumers are treated. Within the past nine years, Bank of America has diminished all of their ethical promises by revealing customer information without their permission; discriminating against consumers based on their race; and manipulating overdraft fees in order to benefit the bank. In order to assess these problems, it is vital to recognize what Bank of America claims to stand for and determine where their most concerning issues are generated from.

On September 8 2016, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFBP) announced that it was taking an enforcement action against Wells Fargo Bank . Wells Fargo is a Fortune 100 company and one of the "Big Four Banks" of the United States. Investigations conducted by the Bureau revealed that employees of the bank created unauthorized deposit and credit card accounts across the country to meet sales goals. Over the years, the bank’s employees opened over 1.5 million fraudulent bank accounts and 0.5 million fake credit card accounts for customers, to meet sales targets and obtain bonuses. The affected consumers, were being harmed by the associated charges and fees for these accounts. The fees include insufficient funds or overdraft fees for the deposit accounts and annual fees for credit card accounts.

The first stated values, states that Wells Fargo’s value open, honest and two communication, which did open a hotline dealing after the scandal and handle the customer service. Though, I would not consider that company honest, but maybe openness after the fact. The second state values is based on accountable and proud of their conduct and decision dealing with Wells Fargo’s. Though, Wells Fargo is unethical in it business practices still used well known business practices and process to motivate salespeople open multiple accounts without the customer permission. Such as training employee in techniques into frauding customers and a system of rewarding for such behavior. Which shows a totally disregard for the customer financial well being

From a macroeconomic perspective, banks and other financial institutions are of critical importance. Not only do they make loans to homeowners and businesses, but these institutions make loans to each other and also influence the money supply. With this in mind, the government as well as the general population have a great interest in insuring the stability of these institutions. So, in our case, when banks are seriously threatened with collapse, even through fault of their own, the state has an ethical duty to ensure their survival through any means necessary. This is a consequence of the deep connections these institutions have with all facets of our society. One clear ramification would be decreased access to loans, if a bank is failing, it will be more hesitant or even cease to make loans to homeowners and small businesses. What is more devastating is the effect this will have on our

Whether a reader agrees or disagrees with how the centralized banking system was created, the foundation for which it was built off of has continued to grow over a century with key fundamentals still in place today. The author’s implications demonstrate that an economists, the intellectuals, were responsible for the banking reform that led to a structured banking system. Could this all have been possible without the influence of the economists? In my opinion, the author has provided enough evidence that would allow the reader to properly analyze and have confidence in the integrity of the article.

An article appearing in the Finance and Economics section of The Economist print edition with the headline ‘‘Turn of the wheel’’ discusses the Treasury proposing measures of cutting red tape. The article notes after President Trump assumed office, he vowed to restructure the elephantine law which had recast financial regulation following the 2007-08 crisis. Thus, he asked Steven Mnuchin, the Treasury secretary to measure all the rules of America against 7 broad principles, bail-outs prevention by taxpayers as well as instituting more efficient regulations inclusive. Mnuchin provided a report on banks where he proposed installments to cover capital markets, asset, and insurance management together with financial

Nowadays, we have modernized banks many in trust their money in. The banks lends money to customers at a higher rate than they pay to depositors or than they borrow it. The difference, known as the margin is kept by the bank. For example, if a bank pays 1% interest on deposits they may charge 6% interest on loans grossing 5% for themselves. Moreover, bank employees from Wells Fargo secretly opened unauthorized accounts to hit sales targets and receive bonuses. Not only is this identity theft, however, it shines even more light on how the love of money is the root of all evil. Lastly, banks

Banks take deposits from savers and pay interest on these accounts. They receive interest on loans when they pass these funds on to borrowers. The spread between the rate they pay for funds and the rate they receive from borrowers is where their profits are derived from. This practice of combining deposits from many sources which can be lent to many borrowers forms a interchange of funds

Well Fargo is currently being sued over 185 Million Dollars and 5,300 were fired for making fake account.

Hiding or divulging information: Goldman bet against their clients several times. They knew material information on certain investment; however, they never communicated that to their clients because they were making money off them.

Banking is designed to make it possible for customers to trade, commercialize and invest. It can be regarded as a service to serve the public and prompt the economy (Rosenthal, 2013). There has been much debate concerning whether big banks should be broken up. The collapse of five biggest investment banks in the financial crisis of 2008 has put an increasing number of countries such as Iceland, Ireland and Spain at the edge of bankruptcy (Rosenthal, 2013) and resulted in mass unemployment and a decrease in living standards. It is clear that although large banks perform invaluable functions in economies of scale and scope, providing unique services which are not accessible elsewhere, they also know they are “too big to fail”(hereafter TBTF) for bail-outs provided by governments; therefore, they continue to take excessive risks for higher compensation, which could have a negative influence on the forming of a competitive and stable market. In this essay, I will look at the causes and consequences of the financial crisis and then argue that those reforms proposed are insufficient to reduce the risks of systemic collapse; Thus, these financial sectors should become small enough to be allowed to fail so that they have to consider carefully before taking excessive risks.

Until 1991, the banking in India was largely staid, straight laced and traditional. The bankers were prudent and cautious as they seldom took risks and were concerned with the normal banking activities of accepting deposits and lending against them. Labeled as "Agents of Social Change", their outlook was rigidly controlled by the policies of the Government, which were centered more on poverty alleviation and the upliftment of the downtrodden. The 1969 and 1980 's nationalization of banks, bringing private banks under the state control, had the objective of realizing this government dream. Even as late as 1991-92, the profitability was a forbidden word in banking business. The banks were established to fulfill social objectives and their performance was rated from their 'task fulfillment ' initiatives rather than from their commercial successes. Lending to the priority sectors, opening of rural branches, achievements in the implementation of Government sponsored schemes and adherence to the policies and programmes of the Government were the parameters considered for evaluating the performance of a bank. No one gave a thought to the actual state of affairs in many banks, which was dismal with huge unrealizable debts, many unviable branches, lethargic staff and very ineffective customer service (Singh, 2007).