How independent are the auditors of today's banks?

If you believe an article by Francine McKenna in Forbes, you'd have to answer "not very".  

If you read the article, you are very likely to believe it.  McKenna focuses on Deloitte, which was chosen as the independent consultant to review that Standard Chartered was adopting sound Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-Money Laundering practices with respect to foreign bank correspondent accounts.  This was back in 2004 when apparently the bank was first caught violating the law.  It looks as though Deloitte was not very independent.  For example, New York authorities report that, in August and September 2005, Deloitte “unlawfully gave [Standard Chartered Bank] confidential historical transaction review reports that it had prepared for two other major foreign banking clients that were under investigation for OFAC violations and money laundering activities.”

  

McKenna believes that "before long Deloitte had morphed from “independent” consultant, in service to the regulators, to “service provider”. As a “service provider” Deloitte apparently aided and abetted the bank’s continued illegal activities by sharing confidential information about other clients’ similar illegal activities and “watering down” reports to the regulators". And then Deloitte is also involved with HSBC, another scammer.

Not exactly an article to pick up one's spirits.