While Michael Cohen's former banker, Gary Farro, testified that Cohen took steps to quickly open the account for Essential Consultants, the shell company Cohen used to pay Stormy Daniels, Farro said the process did not prompt any red flags based on the information Cohen provided.

"Not based on the answers I was given ... on the questions I asked," Farro said when asked about potential red flags.

Farro added that accounts in the real estate world were often opened quickly.

"It's not unusual, it's not every time. It's not unusual," Farro said.

Farro testified that he was not involved with the decision to end First Republic Bank's relationship with Cohen, adding that if a client provides false information, First Republic Bank would sever their relationship.

"The decision was not mine," Farro said during a brief re-cross examination.

Gary Farro, under cross-examination, said that First Republic Bank did not open the account for Essential Consultants LLC for Michael Cohen to operate a shell company.

"I don't open up shell corporations," Farro, who was Cohen's banker, said of the LLC that was used for Cohen to send payment to Stormy Daniels in 2016. "Shell corporations that have no business behind them would give me pause."

While First Republic allows some accounts to be opened with limited transactions -- such as an account for an LLC to own a property or aircraft -- the account created by Cohen had the listed business purpose of "investment consulting" work, according to evidence.

Farro added that the information that Cohen provided -- such as not listing himself as someone's agent -- allowed the account to be opened quicker.

"Not only would it raise more questions, but it would require more paperwork," Farro said.

Under cross-examination by defense attorney Todd Blanche, Michael Cohen's former banker testified about his first interactions with Cohen.

Gary Farro said his boss introduced him to Michael Cohen in Cohen's office in Trump Tower.

"He was a challenging client because of his desire to get things done so quickly," Farro said. "Ninety percent of the time, it was an urgent matter."

Farro said that his supervisors removed Cohen as his client in 2017, as the details about the transactions in question "went public."

"They didn't want me to have communication with the client any longer," Farro said.

Prosecutor Becky Mangold concluded her direct examination of banker Gary Farro by asking if First Republic Bank would have still permitted the wire transfer to Stormy Daniels if Michael Cohen disclosed the money was going to an adult film actress.

"There would definitely have been enhanced due diligence on that," Farro said, adding that the due diligence would have delayed the payment.

"We might consider that a reputational risk," Farro added.

After prosecutors completed their direct examination of Gary Farro, defense attorney Todd Blanche began his cross-examination.

After Judge Merchan fined Trump a total of $9,000 for nine violations of the case's limited gag order, Trump was ordered to pay the fine by the close of business this Friday.

Merchan also ordered Trump to remove the posts from his Truth Social account and campaign website by 2:15 p.m. today.

Before resuming Gary Farro's direct examination, Judge Merchan also informed the parties that Trump will be able to attend his son Barron's high school graduation in May, as Trump had requested.

"I don't think the May 17 date is the problem, so Mr. Trump can certainly attend that day, attend his son's graduation," Merchan said.