(Photo: AP)
JPMorgan Chase & Co. says it's probing the role of some employees who may have enabled misuse of Covid-relief funds in what it calls potentially illegal activities.
The New York-based bank said it has seen "instances of customers misusing Paycheck Protection Program Loans, unemployment benefits and other government programs" and that some "employees have fallen short, too," according to a memo to staff from the bank's senior leaders Tuesday.
The firm said the conduct doesn't meet its principles "and may even be illegal."
"We are doing all we can to identify those instances and cooperating with law enforcement where appropriate," according to the memo. The bank asked workers to report any conduct that violates its policies.
Trish Wexler, a spokeswoman for the firm, declined to comment.
JPMorgan was the biggest lender in the Small Business Administration's PPP program, which offered a lifeline to businesses reeling from shutdowns tied to the coronavirus pandemic but has caused headaches for banks.
The $669 billion program was the centerpiece of the federal coronavirus relief package enacted in March and allowed small businesses to apply for a loans of as much as $10 million each.
