A federal judge in Manhattan has granted preliminary approval to a proposed $72.5 million settlement resolving claims that Bank of America facilitated Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking and abuse. The deal would cover up to 75 women who alleged the bank enabled Epstein’s conduct by continuing to provide banking services despite purported red flags surrounding his activities.

The ruling is significant not only because of the size of the settlement, but also because it reflects continued judicial scrutiny of the role financial institutions can play in misconduct by high-risk clients.