By Alabama Public Radio
Washington, DC – The U.S. Justice Department is investigating Compass Bancshares' automobile lending practices. Compass says the investigation is a civil matter, not a criminal one. Investigators are looking for discriminatory practices against co-applicants who weren't married. Compass says it learned of the investigation and possible federal civil lawsuit in early June. The federal government is reportedly looking at the bank's lending activities between May 2001 and May 2003.