Banc of America Investment Services, Inc., Sanctioned by FINRA

Banc of America Investment Services, Inc. dba Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (CRD #7691, New York, New York) 

submitted a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent in which the firm was censured and fined $55,000. The firm has already paid restitution to the customers involved with the transactions. Without admitting or denying the findings, the firm consented to the described sanctions and to the entry of findings that it purchased municipal securities for its own account from a customer and/or sold municipal securities for its own account to a customer at an aggregate price (including any markdown or markup) that was not fair and reasonable, taking into consideration all relevant factors, including the best judgment of the broker, dealer or municipal securities dealer as to the fair market value of the securities at the time of the transaction and of any other securities exchanged or traded in connection with the transaction, the expense involved in effecting the transaction, the fact that the broker, dealer or municipal securities dealer is entitled to a profit, and the total dollar amount of the transaction.

( FINRA Case #2009018104101)