Kentucky joins mortgage foreclosure settlement

FRANKFORT, Ky. - Kentucky will receive $58.8 million as part of a $25 billion national mortgage foreclosure settlement with the five of the country's largest banks.

On Thursday, Attorney General Jack Conway said he had joined attorneys general from 48 other states in the agreement, which preserves the rights of states to pursue criminal and civil actions against the five banks: Citigroup, Bank of America, JP Morgan Chase, Wells Fargo and Ally Financial.

The agreement provides relief to thousands of homeowners who were foreclosed upon after the housing bubble burst, principal write-downs and refinancing to homeowners whose mortgages exceed the value of their homes and payments to states for consumer protection programs.

The office has set up a Web page with information: http://www.ag.ky.gov/mortgagesettlement .

The deal affects several thousand homeowners in Kentucky, Conway said.