5 banks to pay $5.4 billion in fines after pleading guilty to manipulating foreign currencies

Citibank sign
(Image credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

The Justice Department announced Wednesday that Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase, Barclays, and the Royal Bank of Scotland will plead guilty to multiple crimes, including violating antitrust laws.

A group of traders who referred to themselves as "the cartel" rigged the market to manipulate interest rates and foreign currencies. The traders executed the scheme for five years, through 2012.

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Meghan DeMaria

Meghan DeMaria is a staff writer at TheWeek.com. She has previously worked for USA Today and Marie Claire.