Wells Fargo & Co. is doubling down on the gun industry, undaunted by criticism of its deep ties to firearm companies and the National Rifle Association.
The San Francisco-based bank last week issued a $40 million line of credit to gun manufacturer Sturm, Ruger & Co., according to financial filings. That’s on top of the $431 million in debt that Wells Fargo has arranged for gunmakers since December 2012, when the Sandy Hook school shooting escalated the gun control debate. No other bank lent more to the industry over that time, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
The new debt, issued to one of the world’s largest publicly traded gunmakers, came as a big surprise to at least one group: nuns who had been talking to Wells Fargo about corporate-responsibility issues. On Sept. 26, the day before the debt agreement was issued, they had met with the bank’s business-standards employees in New York.
“This is shocking news because we are in sustained dialogue with Wells Fargo,” said Nora Nash, a sister at St. Francis of Philadelphia who was at the meeting as a member of the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility. “This new business relationship with Sturm Ruger is in direct conflict with ethics, culture and respect for human rights throughout the company.”
Gunmaker Ties
Unlike Wells Fargo, a number of big banks, including Bank of America Corp., Citigroup Inc. and JPMorgan Chase & Co., said they would reduce ties to gunmakers after the February mass shooting at a Parkland, Florida, high school that left 17 dead. Wells Fargo also has a long relationship with the National Rifle Association, offering credit and operating its primary bank accounts.
Wells Fargo said in a statement it continues to work with the Interfaith Center on business standards.
“Wells Fargo wants schools and communities to be safe from gun violence, but changes to laws and regulations should be determined through a legislative process that gives the American public an opportunity to participate and not be arbitrarily set by a bank,” it said.
Bank of America had extended credit to Sturm Ruger until June, when the line expired. In the wake of the Parkland shooting, it had specifically said it would stop lending to companies that make assault-style rifles -- which the company does.
The Charlotte, North Carolina-based bank said it doesn’t comment on client matters. A representative for Sturm Ruger did not respond to requests for comment.
Religious Activity
The religious community has been playing a shareholder-activist role on the gun issue. Earlier this year, groups introduced shareholder proposals at Sturm Ruger and American Outdoor Brands Corp., formerly Smith & Wesson, that require them to produce reports on gun safety. Both proposals passed.