In the high-stakes world of finance, the cost of non-compliance can be extraordinarily high. This fact was brought into stark reality recently when several Wall Street banks were hit with a collective fine of $549 million by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Wells Fargo alone was handed a staggering $200 million penalty.
Firms penalized by the SEC include Wells Fargo ($125 million), BNP Paribas ($35 million), SG Americas Securities ($35 million), BMO Capital Markets ($25 million), Mizuho Securities ($25 million), Houlihan Lokey Capital ($15 million), Moelis & Company ($10 million), Wedbush Securities ($10 million) and SMBC Nikko Securities America ($9 million). Meanwhile, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) fined Wells Fargo ($75 million), BNP Paribas ($75 million), Société Générale ($75 million) and Bank of Montreal ($35 million).
The SEC's investigation revealed that the employees of these firms, including supervisors and senior executives, often communicated about business matters using personal messaging platforms like iMessage, WhatsApp, and Signal. These "off-channel" communications were not maintained or preserved as per federal securities laws, resulting in significant recordkeeping and supervisory failures.
The lack of proper preservation of these communications deprived the SEC of crucial information during various investigations. This unfortunate situation leads us to ponder: Could these financial behemoths have avoided such severe fines if they had implemented an effective record-keeping system?
How could this have been prevented?
This is where FirmScribe's iMessage Capture comes into play. FirmScribe has revolutionized the way regulated firms can capture all iMessages instantly. This service ensures compliance with both FINRA and SEC guidelines, capturing iMessages and SMS messages, supporting all archive platforms, requiring no additional apps to install or maintain, and letting you keep your existing phone number.
If these Wall Street banks had implemented FirmScribe's iMessage Capture, they could have saved millions in penalties. More than just avoiding fines, this would have demonstrated their commitment to compliance, a factor that is essential in maintaining investor trust and a firm's reputation.
At FirmScribe, we understand the importance of compliance in the financial industry. We offer a secure and compliant message archiving solution that can be up and running in just minutes. Our team of problem-solving specialists is dedicated to your success. Our core Managed Services package allows you to focus on your core competencies while we handle your compliance needs.
Don't wait until a hefty fine forces you to take action.
Implement FirmScribe's iMessage Capture today and safeguard your firm against non-compliance. Remember, in the world of finance, compliance isn't just a best practice—it's mandatory. Contact us today to get started. Secure your firm's future by ensuring the preservation of all communication channels, including iMessage. Choose FirmScribe, choose compliance.
