WATCH THE VIDEO HERE Angela Dionne Oakley of ‘Real Housewives of Atlanta’ Once Faced Industry Ban Over Financial Misconduct Angela Dionne Oakley, one of the newest cast members on The Real Housewives of Atlanta, is gaining attention not just for her presence on screen, but also for her past career in finance — a career that ended with disciplinary action more than a decade ago. Before her time in the spotlight, Oakley, then known as Angela Dionne Reed, worked as a financial analyst at Wachovia Bank (which later merged with Wells Fargo). During her tenure there, she was involved in a financial misconduct case, which led to her resignation from the bank and a permanent ban from the financial industry, issued by FINRA — the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, which oversees broker-dealer firms and financial professionals. According to a public disciplinary filing from FINRA, Reed was found to have processed a loan in the amount of $17,000 without proper authorization. The loan was made in the name of her cousin’s grandmother, who reportedly had no knowledge of the transaction. Of the loan, $11,000 was allegedly used to make a payment on Reed’s personal mortgage, while the remaining $6,000 was shared between her and her cousin. The loan was never repaid, and Wachovia reportedly wrote off the full amount as a loss in early 2008. In response to the incident, FINRA conducted a formal investigation and concluded that Reed had violated industry rules regarding ethical conduct and honesty. She was barred from associating with any FINRA member firm in any capacity — a lifetime ban that effectively ended her financial services career. FINRA’s disciplinary report also notes that Reed was fined $1,214 in connection with the violation. During the disciplinary process, Reed reportedly cited the emotional stress caused by the recent death of her child’s father. However, the regulators ultimately held her responsible for the misconduct. The FINRA ruling is publicly available and part of a database that tracks disciplinary actions against licensed professionals in the financial industry. Since that time, Angela Oakley has transitioned out of the finance sector and into public life. In 2024, she joined the cast of Bravo’s long-running reality series The Real Housewives of Atlanta, which often features women navigating careers, family, and fame. She is married to former NBA player Charles Oakley. As of now, Oakley has not publicly commented on the FINRA ruling or the circumstances that led to her departure from Wachovia. Interestingly, she refers to herself as a “financial manager” on Social media and other platforms. But Media Take Out confirmed that she is still currently banned by FINRA. Oakley’s story is a reminder that many public figures have complex pasts—and that reality TV often brings them back into focus. With The Real Housewives of Atlanta known for diving deep into cast members’ personal and professional lives, fans and critics alike are watching closely to see how Oakley’s journey will unfold on screen. What Happened?
Regulatory Response
Life After Finance
Public Figures and Past Scrutiny
RHOA Angela Oakley SCAMMER: Banned From Finance! (Legal Docs)
