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Baltimore's tale of sub-prime woe Baltimore's tale of sub-prime woe
(about 11 hours later)
By Matthew Price BBC News, Baltimore, Maryland Boarded-up homes are common in some parts of BaltimoreBy Matthew Price BBC News, Baltimore, Maryland Boarded-up homes are common in some parts of Baltimore
The awards on top of the cabinet dominate Beth Jacobson's small office.The awards on top of the cabinet dominate Beth Jacobson's small office.
Beth Jacobson worked for Wells Fargo - one of the largest banks in the US - for nine years. She was a champion salesman for the company, shifting huge numbers of sub-prime mortgages.Beth Jacobson worked for Wells Fargo - one of the largest banks in the US - for nine years. She was a champion salesman for the company, shifting huge numbers of sub-prime mortgages.
Some awards are the shape of table-top obelisks. Others look more like local football club trophies, with small metal plates screwed onto them, and a list of dates and numbers.Some awards are the shape of table-top obelisks. Others look more like local football club trophies, with small metal plates screwed onto them, and a list of dates and numbers.
The numbers are large.The numbers are large.
"That was for $4.9m [£3m] for 17 sub-prime loans. This month was 26 sub-prime loans. I did over $6m at that point," she says."That was for $4.9m [£3m] for 17 sub-prime loans. This month was 26 sub-prime loans. I did over $6m at that point," she says.
She says her tactic was to make sure all the loans she issued were for sub-prime borrowers.She says her tactic was to make sure all the loans she issued were for sub-prime borrowers.
"It was a lot easier to put people into a sub-prime loan. If you take the application and said 'OK, how much do you have in the bank?', and then not ask for any back-up documentation, that would keep it as a sub-prime loan," she explains."It was a lot easier to put people into a sub-prime loan. If you take the application and said 'OK, how much do you have in the bank?', and then not ask for any back-up documentation, that would keep it as a sub-prime loan," she explains.
"If you would have [asked] for a couple of bank statements, that would have proved that they could have gone prime, but if the sub-prime loan officer [has] already been able to sell that rate to that customer, then why would you take it prime and cut your commission by two-thirds?""If you would have [asked] for a couple of bank statements, that would have proved that they could have gone prime, but if the sub-prime loan officer [has] already been able to sell that rate to that customer, then why would you take it prime and cut your commission by two-thirds?"
Liar loansLiar loans
Under a sub-prime mortgage customers didn't have to prove their income. They didn't have to pay a deposit. The lender made a lot of money - and the customer typically ended up paying a much higher rate of interest.Under a sub-prime mortgage customers didn't have to prove their income. They didn't have to pay a deposit. The lender made a lot of money - and the customer typically ended up paying a much higher rate of interest.
The African American churches in Baltimore were an excellent source of business Beth Jacobson, former sub-prime loan saleswomanThe African American churches in Baltimore were an excellent source of business Beth Jacobson, former sub-prime loan saleswoman
There has been some anecdotal evidence that companies were deliberately pushing people into such loans when they simply weren't suitable.There has been some anecdotal evidence that companies were deliberately pushing people into such loans when they simply weren't suitable.
Beth Jacobson is one of the first to lift the lid on what was going on, and therefore to shine some light onto the origins of the housing crisis which helped ignite the global recession.Beth Jacobson is one of the first to lift the lid on what was going on, and therefore to shine some light onto the origins of the housing crisis which helped ignite the global recession.
"I think to some degree you knew you were putting people into loans they really didn't need to be, but we were doing exactly what the company asked. At that time in the office we'd say 'we're riding the stagecoach to hell'.""I think to some degree you knew you were putting people into loans they really didn't need to be, but we were doing exactly what the company asked. At that time in the office we'd say 'we're riding the stagecoach to hell'."
Beth Jacobson is now a key witness for the city of Baltimore.Beth Jacobson is now a key witness for the city of Baltimore.
The city is suing her former company Wells Fargo, accusing it of pushing sub-prime loans on people who qualified for prime loans, singling out African Americans for mortgages they couldn't afford, pushing many into foreclosure and ultimately leaving the city to pick up the pieces.The city is suing her former company Wells Fargo, accusing it of pushing sub-prime loans on people who qualified for prime loans, singling out African Americans for mortgages they couldn't afford, pushing many into foreclosure and ultimately leaving the city to pick up the pieces.
Devastated neighbourhoodsDevastated neighbourhoods
On street after street in some parts of Baltimore, you can walk past boarded-up home after boarded-up home. Chipboard is nailed over the windows. A padlock secures the front door.On street after street in some parts of Baltimore, you can walk past boarded-up home after boarded-up home. Chipboard is nailed over the windows. A padlock secures the front door.
They pedal their drugs in there Gay Pierce, Baltimore resident They peddle their drugs in there Gay Pierce, Baltimore resident
On one doorstep there's a man cleaning up an old rusty tool.On one doorstep there's a man cleaning up an old rusty tool.
"I found it in the street, might be worth something," he says."I found it in the street, might be worth something," he says.
Next to him sits a woman, her two front teeth missing.Next to him sits a woman, her two front teeth missing.
Gay Pierce says she spends her days trying to keep the streets clean. The empty houses though are making that difficult.Gay Pierce says she spends her days trying to keep the streets clean. The empty houses though are making that difficult.
"They pedal their drugs in there," she says, pointing towards an empty building. "Sell drugs, [they hold] dog fights, they sleep in there when they're homeless." "They peddle their drugs in there," she says, pointing towards an empty building. "Sell drugs, [they hold] dog fights, they sleep in there when they're homeless."
People talk of the rats which colonise empty homes, and then head next door to the inhabited buildings to look for food.People talk of the rats which colonise empty homes, and then head next door to the inhabited buildings to look for food.
One of the things that is noticeable is that the foreclosures are concentrated in predominantly African American areas, and that forms part of the city's case against Wells Fargo.One of the things that is noticeable is that the foreclosures are concentrated in predominantly African American areas, and that forms part of the city's case against Wells Fargo.
For years in such districts it was often impossible to get a loan - a process called red lining.For years in such districts it was often impossible to get a loan - a process called red lining.
Now the city says banks engaged in reverse red lining.Now the city says banks engaged in reverse red lining.
They pushed sub-prime mortgages in places where people were historically unable to get loans, and perhaps didn't understand the details of the mortgages they were being sold.They pushed sub-prime mortgages in places where people were historically unable to get loans, and perhaps didn't understand the details of the mortgages they were being sold.
Role of churchesRole of churches
The sub-prime salesmen also used an unlikely source of influence - the black churches. "The African American churches in Baltimore were an excellent source of business," Ms Jacobson says.The sub-prime salesmen also used an unlikely source of influence - the black churches. "The African American churches in Baltimore were an excellent source of business," Ms Jacobson says.
We have principles, systems and processes [that] team members must follow that ensure race is not a factor in the pricing and products we offer Wells FargoWe have principles, systems and processes [that] team members must follow that ensure race is not a factor in the pricing and products we offer Wells Fargo
"The whole premise was to tell people that for everyone who gets a loan through Wells Fargo, the company would donate $350 to the church. So that was a way for the community to feel like they're helping their church, but at the same time they're getting set up in a sub-prime loan."The whole premise was to tell people that for everyone who gets a loan through Wells Fargo, the company would donate $350 to the church. So that was a way for the community to feel like they're helping their church, but at the same time they're getting set up in a sub-prime loan.
Wells Fargo denies the charges. It says it is associated with only 1% of the 33,000 foreclosures in Baltimore and that it has worked "responsibly and fairly" to help more African Americans own their own homes.Wells Fargo denies the charges. It says it is associated with only 1% of the 33,000 foreclosures in Baltimore and that it has worked "responsibly and fairly" to help more African Americans own their own homes.
In a statement the bank says: "We have principles, systems and processes [that] team members must follow that ensure race is not a factor in the pricing and products we offer."In a statement the bank says: "We have principles, systems and processes [that] team members must follow that ensure race is not a factor in the pricing and products we offer."
In her office - next to the cabinet with the awards - Beth Jacobson is now working to help people avoid foreclosure. She believes that counts for something.In her office - next to the cabinet with the awards - Beth Jacobson is now working to help people avoid foreclosure. She believes that counts for something.
"I don't feel guilty because I was doing what I was asked to do by the company I trusted. Unfortunately it did set people up for failure, but now I do feel that I've kind of redeemed that by going out to help people in order to save their houses from foreclosure," she says."I don't feel guilty because I was doing what I was asked to do by the company I trusted. Unfortunately it did set people up for failure, but now I do feel that I've kind of redeemed that by going out to help people in order to save their houses from foreclosure," she says.
Redemption though will not come swiftly for the millions who have lost their homes, nor for the city neighbourhoods blighted as a result.Redemption though will not come swiftly for the millions who have lost their homes, nor for the city neighbourhoods blighted as a result.
The mortgage brokers and the banks knew how risky sub-prime mortgages were, but until the housing boom went bust, no one worried about the long-term consequences.The mortgage brokers and the banks knew how risky sub-prime mortgages were, but until the housing boom went bust, no one worried about the long-term consequences.