WSJ.com: “Bank of America Corp. and the Justice Department are close to a deal in which the bank will pay between $16 billion and $17 billion to resolve allegations of mortgage-related misconduct in the run-up to the financial crisis, according to people familiar with the matter. The bank has agreed to pay roughly $9 billion in cash to the Justice Department, states and other government entities, these people said, with additional money aimed at consumer relief, such as reducing mortgage balances for struggling homeowners. If finalized, the agreement would set a record for fines and damages in a civil settlement between the U.S. government and a company. It would eclipse the $13 billion pact struck between the Justice Department and J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. in November over similar issues. Citigroup Inc. recently agreed to pay $7 billion to settle similar claims that it sold shoddy mortgage-backed securities ahead of the financial crisis.”