In a financial report that shows general counsel and interim CEO Allen Parker is still struggling mightily to overcome Wells Fargo & Co.’s past scandals, the bank is taking a $1.6 billion charge for legal costs that caught some observers by surprise.

The Oct. 15 Wells Fargo quarterly earnings report, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, showed a whopping $1.8 billion increase in noninterest expenses over last quarter. The increase was driven mainly by $1.7 billion surge in operating losses, including the legal charge, along with $823 million paid for outside professional services, such as outside counsel and consultants.