A 2012 Senate investigation found HSBC had laundered at least $881 million for Mexican and Colombian drug cartels, processed transactions for sanctioned nations including Iran and North Korea, and facilitated $15 billion in bulk cash transactions with Mexico. The bank paid a $1.9 billion fine — about five weeks of revenue — and entered a deferred prosecution agreement. No executives were criminally charged, prompting outrage about 'too big to jail.'