WASHINGTON, Sept 3 (Reuters) - Six credit rating

agencies agreed to pay a total of more than $49 million in civil

penalties to settle U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

charges they broke recordkeeping rules, the regulator said on

Tuesday.

Moody's Investors Service ( MCO ), S&P Global Ratings

, Fitch Ratings, HR Ratings de Mexico, A.M. Best Rating

Services and Demotech each admitted to significant failures by

the firms and personnel to maintain and preserve electronic

communications, the SEC said.

Moody's and S&P agreed to pay $20 million each, while

Fitch agreed to pay $8 million, the SEC said. A.M. Best will

pay $1 million, HR Ratings de México agreed to pay $250,000 and

Demotech will pay $100,000.

The SEC has hit dozens of firms with fines for failing

to maintain records, largely in connection with employees' use

of text messages and messaging apps such as WhatsApp.

Lawyers for the firms did not respond immediately to

requests for comment.