Accessibility links
Investigating The Wells Fargo Scandal Wells Fargo is embroiled in a scandal for taking advantage of customers by opening as many as 2 million accounts without their consent.
Special Series

Investigating The Wells Fargo Scandal

Episode 728: The Wells Fargo Hustle
Justin Sullivan/AFP/Getty Images

Planet Money

Episode 728: The Wells Fargo Hustle

We take you inside the headquarters of Wells Fargo bank. It's a place where a bunch of young, stressed-out workers were rewarded for doing some very bad things.

Episode 728: The Wells Fargo Hustle

Listen · 18:32
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/497084491/497127671" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Fired Wells Fargo Employees Allege Attempts To Blow The Whistle

Wells Fargo's CEO has said the banking scandal was the the fault of some bad apples at the company who have been fired. But former workers are now speaking out and telling NPR they were "good apples," and they were fired, too. Some were fired after calling the company's ethics line repeatedly to complain about the gaming and fraud and oppressive sales culture at the company. And some say being fired by Wells Fargo a few years ago has badly damaged their careers ever since.

Fired Wells Fargo Employees Allege Attempts To Blow The Whistle

Listen · 4:07
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/497991242/497991243" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Workers Say Wells Fargo Unfairly Scarred Their Careers

In the ongoing scandal engulfing Wells Fargo, the bank says it fired wrongdoers. But some workers say they were trying to blow the whistle and Wells Fargo fired them. Ariel Zambelich/NPR hide caption

toggle caption
Ariel Zambelich/NPR

Workers Say Wells Fargo Unfairly Scarred Their Careers

In the ongoing scandal engulfing Wells Fargo, the bank says it fired wrongdoers. But some workers say they were trying to blow the whistle and Wells Fargo fired them.

Workers Say Wells Fargo Unfairly Scarred Their Careers

Listen · 7:35
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/498804659/498804660" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Episode 732: Bad Form, Wells Fargo
Cultura RF/Getty Images

Planet Money

Episode 732: Bad Form, Wells Fargo

Banks like Wells Fargo have a weapon that can destroy an employee's career: A form. A long, boring form most people don't even know exists.

Episode 732: Bad Form, Wells Fargo

Listen · 17:10
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/499805238/499838527" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Senators Investigate Reports Wells Fargo Punished Workers

Sen. Elizabeth Warren questions John Stumpf, then CEO of Wells Fargo, during a Senate Banking Committee hearing on Sept. 20. Pete Marovic/Bloomberg via Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Pete Marovic/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Senators Investigate Reports Wells Fargo Punished Workers

Elizabeth Warren and two other senators are asking the bank about reports of retribution against would-be whistleblowers. The senators cite NPR reports about workers who were fired or pushed to quit.

Senators Investigate Reports Wells Fargo Punished Workers

Listen · 1:40
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/500728907/500728908" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Reports On Wells Fargo Whistleblowers Spark Inquiry In Congress

Ex-workers who resisted pressure to push banking products on customers who didn't want them say Wells Fargo retaliated against them by docking their permanent record, sabotaging future job prospects.

Reports On Wells Fargo Whistleblowers Spark Inquiry In Congress

Listen · 4:49
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/507597691/507597692" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Browse archive or search npr.org