Countrywide Financial

nationwide pecuniary The Subprime Meltdown Course MAN3065 Team or Group 8 Date submitted 02/27/13 Reference 726077 depot 2012-2 Days M & W Time 705pm 820pm Prof Hoa N. Burrows, CPA Countrywide Financial The Subprime Meltdown Questions 1. Are subprime loans an unethical financial legal instrument, or are they ethical tools that were misused? We believed subprime loans are ethical tools that were misused.Subprime loans involve lending to borrowers, generally people who would not qualify for traditional loans, at a arrange higher than the prime rate (Ferrell et al 385) meaning that it is a financial instrument in which borrowers healthfulbeing from accessing capital that otherwise would have been denied to them, and financial institutions benefit from charging a higher pursual. What made subprime loans so attractive was the fact that it enabled low-income individuals and minorities (no qualifies for regular loans) to have access to homeownership.In the right hands, in th e right time, a subprime loan could mean an important tool for different minorities to im attest the quality of their lives by obtaining financing for more than just home mortgages but also school tuition, for example (Iacono). However, as the Countrywide Financial case illustrates, there is wide misuse of this tool by institutions that engage in indiscriminate lending for the sake of short-term internet at the risk of major financial downturn, as in the 2008-2009 financial crisis. Ferrell et al 388) Moreover, while lending money to low-income and minority families justifies a higher matter to rate due to the risk of debt default, lending money to families that would very unlikely be in the capacity to fully repay their mortgage is a affright to both the financial institution who would had lost the invested money and the borrowers who would be forced to face foreclosure but even more threatening were the endless securities backed on these subprime loans, whose documentary ris k were only known by Countrywide Financial.By deciding to lend money indiscriminately, this company ended up misusing a financial instrument that would have otherwise brought on progress for its customers and the company itself. 2. Discuss the ethical issues that caused the downfall of Countrywide Financial Different ethical issues caused the downfall of Countrywide Financial including unethical actions of both the company and the borrowers. Firstly, Countrywide Financial misused the adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) Borrowers were told that they would not get negatively affected with an increasing interest rate as the value of their property would increase accordingly.Nonetheless, when the recession came many of these borrowers discovered they were unable to pay. (Ferrell et al 386). Secondly, between many of the accusations against Countrywide, two of the main ones were that real estate appraisers began to inflate the value of homes to ensure that loans would go through. (Ferrell et al 387), and that they had a special VIP discount mortgage programs for high-end well qualified individuals who had no bespeak for discounts, called Friends of Angelo, Angelo Mozilos Countrywide Financial CEO -friends including Senator Charles E. Schumer and Representative Henry A.Waxman. (Ferrell et al 390) Fourthly, Countrywide Financial was negligent in knowingly giving out exceedingly risky loans to people who could not afford them for the sake of quick profit (Ferrell et al 389) which also brought out the question of whether the company was also involved in predatory lending misleading its borrowers. (Ferrell et al 389) On the other hand, borrowers actions were also unethical as it was proven they were dishonest in their loan applications 90% of liar loan applicants knowingly overstated their income, with three out of five overstating it by at least 50%. However this fact only seems to prove that Countrywide was helping borrowers falsifying information in order to secure t he loan. (Ferrell et al 389) 3. How should brink of America deal with potential ethical and legal bobble discovered at Countrywide Having acquired Countrywide Financials debt and bad reputation, Bank of America should focus on disconnecting itself from previous affiliates that were a part of the precedent company during their financial meltdown, such as ex CEO Angelo Mozilo, ex COO David Sambol, and ex CFO Sieracki (Ferrell et al 392).In addition to this they should make sure that the call for information is being promptly provided to pertaining authorities. Moreover, Bank of America should ensure that a proper risk management policy is set up, continuing as well with programs to ease loan terms and prevent borrowers from losing their homes, such as the Countrywide Comprehensive Home Preservation Program which helped consumers refinance their debt. Ferrell et al 388) In conclusion, Bank of America should continue with their current actions whilst making sure the authorities are getting the information necessary to reach the bottom of what really happened at Countrywide Financial, and thus prevent this situation from ever happening again. . Works Cited Ferrell, O. C. , John Fraedrich and Linda Ferrell. Business Ethics Ethical Decision Making and Cases. Mason South-Western, 2011. Iacono, Tim. Iacono Research. deuce-ace of Student Loans Are Subprime Loans. 04 02 2013. 22 02 2013 .