Lloyds Banking Group is reportedly facing a probe by UK regulators into the manipulation of benchmark rates.The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) is examining information it had been given by the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) some months ago that might prompt a criminal investigation into former and current employees at Lloyds, Reuters reported on Wednesday, citing sources.The lender declined to comment while the SFO failed to provide any details.The news comes two days after the bank was fined a joint $370m by the FCA and US regulators for interest rate rigging.Lloyds has also been accused of trying to manipulate the repo rate, which determined the fees the bank paid to access the Bank of England's special liquidity scheme. The FCA on Monday said four traders were involved. Bank of England Governor Mark Carney has told Lloyds' Chairman Norman Blackwell that the manipulation could trigger criminal action. "Such manipulation is highly reprehensible, clearly unlawful and may amount to criminal conduct on the part of the individuals involved," Carney wrote on 15 July in a letter published by Lloyds on Monday.Lloyds is due to report its half-year results on Monday RD