The Department of Housing and Urban Development initiated the probe following a letter sent to CEO Charlie Scharf this Wednesday. Officials are examining specific programs and commitments established nearly a decade ago, seeking to determine if the bank’s attempts to address disparities in mortgage access resulted in the preferential treatment of certain minority groups at the expense of others.

Wells Fargo has declined to comment on the ongoing inquiry, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development did not immediately provide a response to requests for further information. The investigation centers on the complex regulatory balance between proactive outreach to underserved populations and the strict non-discrimination requirements mandated by national lending standards.