Webull fined $3M for failing to properly supervise automated trading system

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) fined broker-dealer Webull Financial $3 million for alleged failures related to customer due diligence and processing and reporting of customer complaints.

In its order Thursday, FINRA said flaws in Webull’s automated, electronic system it used to approve or disapprove customer accounts for options trading from 2019-21 “resulted in customers being approved for options trading authority who did not satisfy the firm’s eligibility criteria or whose accounts contained red flags that options trading was potentially inappropriate for them.”

One flaw FINRA identified with the system was how it handled requests by young customers—18 and 19 years old—who applied for “Level 3” options trading authority, which required three years of options trading experience.