Explained: How America’s biggest bank enabled Jeffrey Epstein — and why it matters now

JPMorgan is not just any bank. With nearly $4 trillion in assets and operations spanning more than 100 countries, it is consistently ranked as the world’s most systemically important financial institution. Regulators and investors alike see it as a bellwether for industry standards. This makes its failings more consequential than most: when the biggest US bank overlooks red flags, it risks signalling to peers that profit can trump compliance. As the New York Times investigation shows, that was precisely the dynamic at play with Epstein.