The original content of Democracy Now! Headlines appears under the Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 3.0 License (United States). For more, including their other shows and media, visit www.democracynow.org. December 22, 2011 Bank of America Settles Countrywide Bias Case With $335M Fine -------------------------------------------------------------- Bank of America has agreed to pay a $335 million dollar settlement over allegations its Countrywide Financial division discriminated against black and Hispanic borrowers. The Justice Department says the settlement is the largest of its kind in history. Investigators found Countrywide charged higher rates to more than 200,000 people of color compared to white borrowers with similar credit. It also found Countrywide directed more than 10,000 minorities toward more expensive subprime mortgages, while giving white borrowers with similar credit regular loans. .