AAP
Massachusetts Attorney-General Martha Coakley says Barclays Bank PLC has agreed to pay $US36.1 million ($39.5 million) to settle allegations it backed subprime home loans it knew were risky.
Coakley says the settlement filed in court on Monday includes more than $US25 million for reduction of principal and other relief for more than 450 subprime borrowers.
Those borrowers had loans securitised by Barclays in 2006 and 2007 with features such as "teaser" interest rates, high debt-to-income ratios and high loan-to-value ratios. Coakley said most are in Boston, Brockton, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, New Bedford, Springfield and Worcester.
The remaining settlement funds go to the state communities affected by loan foreclosures and non-profit organisations involved in foreclosure relief.
Barclays says it is pleased to resolve the matter.
Coakley has made similar settlements with other institutions in recent years.