WASHINGTON, D.C., May 30 (RAPSI) - US officials are threatening BNP Paribas (France) with a $10 billion fine for breaching the sanctions regime regarding Cuba, Sudan and Iran, Wall Street Journal reports citing sources familiar with the talks between the US and the bank.
The newspaper reports that the bank is ready to pay only up to $8 billion. The parties have not yet reached an agreement regarding the fine to be imposed on BNP Paribas.
The US has repeatedly sought large fines in similar cases against international banks. HSBC (UK) paid $1.9 bn in 2012 in response to accusations of cooperating with countries sanctioned by the US.
Also, Credit Suisse pled guilty of concealing data on US taxpayers from the US officials and paid a $2.6 bn fine.
BNP Paribas SA, established in 2000 as a merger of Banque Nationale de Paris (BNP) and the Paribas investment bank, is one of the six most influential banks in the world. The bank headquartered in Paris, London and Geneva, holds largest deposits in the EU.