Commerzbank may pay upto $800m to settle US probe

German lender Commerzbank AG is expected to pay between $600 million and $800 million to resolve investigations into its dealings with Iran and other countries under US sanctions, sources familiar with the matter said. The penalty, previously reported to be more than $500 million, includes a demand from New York's top banking regulator, Benjamin Lawsky, for more than $300 million from the bank, the sources said. Other US authorities, including the Department of Justice, the Treasury Department, the Federal Reserve and the Manhattan District Attorney, are also involved in the talks. Among the violations being investigated are Commerzbank's transactions for the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines. The state-sponsored shipping company was designated for economic sanctions by the United States in 2008 for allegedly supporting Iran's proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The source said Commerzbank was alleged to have done business with the company despite knowing that it was sanctioned. A Commerzbank representative declined to comment on the allegations and the size of any settlement. A settlement could be reached in the next few weeks, one source said. The Justice Department, Manhattan DA's office and the New York Department of Financial Services declined to comment. The other authorities could not immediately be reached for comment. The German bank is the latest bank to enter into settlement negotiations with US authorities. French lender BNP Paribas SA struck a record-breaking $8.9 billion deal last week to resolve investigations into violations of sanctions and related misconduct involving Sudan, Iran and Cuba. US authorities are also investigating Italy's UniCredit SpA, France's Credit Agricole SA and Societe Generale, and Germany's Deutsche Bank AG for sanctions violations, sources said, according to Reuters.