The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has initiated inquiries into several prominent banks, including JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, and Citigroup, to investigate potential obstruction of whistleblowers, as per sources cited by a news agency on Wednesday.

According to the report, the CFTC has requested non-disclosure agreements from these banks concerning their swaps and clearing operations. Additionally, the regulator has sought access to employment and customer agreements within these sectors.

This move by the CFTC aligns with heightened scrutiny from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which has intensified its vigilance in this domain and imposed penalties on firms found non-compliant.

In recent developments, JPMorgan consented to pay an $18 million civil fine in January to settle allegations of violating whistleblower protection regulations, according to statements from the SEC.

Damian Williams, a prominent figure in prosecuting financial misconduct on Wall Street, has also encouraged whistleblowers to step forward and disclose illicit activities under a newly instituted program aimed at uncovering unlawful behavior.