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Wells Fargo Settles Complaint Over Alleged Sex Harassment By Loan Officer

TRENTON, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Wells Fargo Bank announced Wednesday that it has settled a civil rights complaint, in which a New Jersey woman who was seeking a loan claimed a bank employee pressured her for sex.

Under terms of the settlement announced Wednesday, Wells Fargo admitted no wrongdoing.

Jeanine Johnson of Newark told investigators she met a loan officer – identified in a Star-Ledger report as Henry Slay – while working on the New Jersey Turnpike in January 2011. Slay said he could help her with a loan she needed and invited her to discuss it over dinner and a movie, the newspaper reported.

Johnson said no, but told state authorities she did got a diner for coffee with Slay and gave him her pay stubs and tax documents, and filled out a loan application from Wells Fargo, the paper reported.

Afterward, Johnson said Slay began showing up at her workplace asking for dates and sent her texts reading "I need sum affection" and asking for a "treat" for his work toward the loan, the paper reported.

When she rebuffed Slay, she said Johnson he became abusive and refused to process her loan, the paper reported.

Under the terms of the settlement, the bank has agreed to strengthen its anti-discrimination and harassment policies. Wells Fargo also agreed to instruct human resources personnel on how to properly investigate employee conduct and to pay the state Civil Rights Division $2,500.

Wells Fargo fired the employee following Johnson's complaint.

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