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Wells Fargo Bank has agreed to update anti-discrimination policies, train human resources employees and pay $2,500 to settle allegations one of its bankers sought sex from a Newark woman who wanted a loan.

(Bloomberg)

TRENTON — Wells Fargo Bank has agreed to pay $2,500 to the state and improve its anti-discrimination policies after a Newark woman alleged one of the company's personal bankers requested sex in order to process her loan application, state authorities said today.

Under a settlement with the Division of Civil Rights, Wells Fargo also agreed to instruct its human resources employees on how to properly investigate complaints about employee conduct. The company also settled with the woman who complained, Jeanine Johnson, but the details of that agreement were not disclosed.

As part of the settlement with the state, Wells Fargo admitted no wrongdoing.

“People who seek a bank loan have every right to anticipate that their privacy and their dignity will be respected, and that they will not be pressured to engage in any sort of unlawful and offensive quid pro quo bargain in order to obtain the loan they’ve requested,” acting state Attorney General John Hoffman said.

A spokesman for the bank, Kevin Friedlander, said in a statement, “We apologize that one of our customers was put into this situation.

“When we learn that a team member has violated our policies, we take appropriate action, based upon all of the facts,” Friedlander said. “We continue to take great pride in our company and the honesty and integrity we promote among our team members.”

Johnson and her attorney could not be reached for comment today.

However, she told state authorities she was working at a service area on the New Jersey Turnpike in January 2011 when she met Henry Slay, a Wells Fargo personal banker who said he could help with a loan she needed.

She said Slay suggested discussing her loan over dinner and a movie. She declined, but later met him at a diner for coffee and gave him her pay stubs and tax records, and filled out a Wells Fargo loan application, she told authorities.

But rather than process that application, Slay began turning up at her workplace, Johnson said, pressuring her for dates and sending her text messages such as “I need sum affection” and asking when he would “get a treat” for his efforts.

Johnson said that after she refused Slay several times, he became abusive and told her he would not process her loan. He also allegedly sent Johnson a text message that read, “(expletive) u and ur loan.” She then complained to her local Wells Fargo branch in Morris County, where the banker worked and where she had once visited to inquire about her loan.

Two managers subsequently interviewed Slay, who did not deny Johnson’s allegations but claimed the two had been involved in a personal relationship that predated her interest in a loan, according to Wells Fargo records.

Authorities said the supervisors cautioned the banker about the need to separate his personal and professional lives when dealing with banking matters, but otherwise took no action. They closed their internal review after speaking only with the alleged harasser, authorities said, and never contacted Johnson or processed her loan application.

In February 2011, Wells Fargo fired Slay, but claimed it was over issues unrelated to Johnson’s harassment allegations. Slay could not be reached for comment.

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