February 9th, 2012 by WCBC Radio
U.S. states have reached a $25 billion deal with the nation's biggest mortgage lenders over foreclosure abuses that occurred after the housing bubble burst. WBAL reports that Maryland is in line for nearly $1 billion. Federal and state officials announced the deal Thursday. It is the biggest settlement involving a single industry since a 1998 multistate tobacco deal.
Under the agreement, five major banks – Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Citigroup and Ally Financial – will reduce loans for nearly 1 million households. They will also send checks of $2,000 to about 750,000 Americans who were improperly foreclosed upon. The banks will have three years to fulfill the terms of the deal.
All but one of the 50 states agreed to the deal. Oklahoma, the lone holdout, will receive no money.
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