Wells Fargo says SEC is examining its hiring practices By Reuters

(Reuters) – Wells Fargo (NYSE:) & Co said on Monday that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has begun investigating its hiring practices, after the Department of Justice had opened a related probe.

In its quarterly report filed with the SEC, the fourth-largest U.S. bank said both agencies “have undertaken formal or informal inquiries or investigations regarding the company’s hiring practices related to diversity.”

The SEC did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Wells Fargo drew scrutiny in June when it suspended a policy requiring that it interview a “diverse” group of people for some jobs, with half of the candidates being female or nonwhite.

The halt came after The New York Times said the policy had led some employees at the San Francisco-based bank to conduct “fake” interviews for jobs that had already been filled.

In reinstating the policy, Wells Fargo said on Aug. 1 it had interviewed recruiters and hiring managers to assess ways to improve hiring diversity, without the alleged abuses.

The SEC can pursue civil cases, while the Justice Department has criminal enforcement power.