Regions Bank to pay $5 million to resolve civil liability over PPP loan

Regions Bank, headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, has agreed to pay the United States $4,919,631 to resolve allegations that Regions received payments it should not have received from the U.S. in connection with Regions approving forgiveness of a customer’s Paycheck Protection Programme loan, despite the fact that the PPP loan was not eligible for forgiveness.
The United States alleged that, on or about August 3, 2021, Regions Bank approved forgiveness of a PPP loan obtained by an individual through Regions Bank, but the PPP loan was not eligible for forgiveness.
The United States further alleged that Regions Bank was unjustly enriched by the SBA payment upon forgiveness of the PPP loan.
Congress created the PPP in March 2020 as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act to provide federally guaranteed loans to small businesses suffering economic hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The U.S. Small Business Administration administered the PPP. The CARES Act authorised private lenders to approve PPP loans for eligible borrowers who could later seek loan forgiveness, so long as they used loan funds for employee payroll and other eligible expenses.
Upon forgiveness of a PPP loan, the SBA paid the lender the forgiven principal loan balance and any accrued interest. SBA also paid to lenders who originated PPP loans a fee calculated as a percentage of the loan amount.
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette

States
Independence: NBA urges Nigerians to expect better future
The NBA said that ordinary Nigerians should be deriving benefit from the subsidy removal rather than hardship.

Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

Heading 2
Tinubu’s economic reforms yielding results despite doubts: Bagudu
Mr Bagudu described Mr Tinubu as a visionary leader whose decisions demonstrated courage and commitment to national development.

Sport
Flamingos lose 2-1 to Poland in FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup opener
Poland’s Natalia Skrok made it two in the second half when Blanka Zajac, in the 65th minute, crossed into the Nigerian penalty area.

States
Gov Mbah scraps N750 daily ticket fee for Enugu tricycle operators, extends work hours
Mr Mbah also disclosed that tricycle operators would continue to use the state’s modern transport terminals free of charge.

States
FG unveils five-point strategy to tackle banditry, terrorism in Sokoto
Mr Ribadu called for sustained security deployments around vulnerable settlements, forest corridors and border communities.

Politics
2027: Wike urges Rivers traditional leaders to avoid ‘mistake’, back Tinubu for prosperity
Mr Wike said, “Supporting Tinubu is a support for prosperity.”

Heading 4
NAPTIP raises alarm over rise in parents’ facilitation of children’s sexual exploitation
The NAPTIP boss said parents and guardians were facilitating the sexual exploitation of their children to make money.





