LONDON, Sept 21 (Reuters) - European banks are likely toreach final U.S. settlements over alleged mis-selling ofmortgage-backed securities well below the $14 billion claimed bythe Department of Justice against Deutsche Bank, Fitch Ratingssaid on Wednesday.
The DoJ announced the unexpectedly high claim on DeutscheBank last week, far exceeding the 3 billion euro ($3.3 billion) toll the bank expected.
Fitch Ratings on Wednesday echoed comments by Deutscheofficials that they expect the final total paid by the Germanlender to be far lower, seeing the DoJ's claim as an openingposition.
All U.S. banks have already settled with the DoJ and in manycases final settlements were far below initial reports, Fitchsaid.
Deutsche Bank is the first European lender whose potentialsettlement with the DoJ has been made public, sparking fearsthat other banks could face much bigger totals than had beenexpected.
RBS shares fell over 5 percent on Friday after the Deutscheannouncement.
Barclays, Credit Suisse, HSBC,Royal Bank of Scotland Group and UBS, are amongthe banks waiting to reach settlements with the DoJ over claimsthey mis-sold mortgage-backed securities in the run up to the2008 financial crisis.
($1 = 0.8973 euros) (Reporting by Lawrence White; Editing by Ruth Pitchford)
Barclays (BARC)
HSBC Holdings (HSBA)
