Should struggling community banks get Tarp funds?
Posted February 8, 2010 | BankThinkThe Obama administration has pledged $30 billion to help community banks boost small-business lending. That has led to a big debate centering on one issue: should strugglers be eligible?
[Read More]Small businesses say credit not yet a problem
Posted February 1, 2010 | Harry TerrisWhile U.S. policymakers are looking at ways to make credit more available to small businesses, a survey by the National Federation of Independent Business portrays the credit crunch as less of a current challenge for its constituents, and more of a potential one if fundamental business conditions improve and borrowing needs increase.
[Read More]Is Volcker Rule more than "shovel ready"?
Posted January 27, 2010 | BankThinkThe administration's decision to embrace Paul Volcker's ideas about limiting the growth and risk-taking of big banks could indicate a willingness to entertain ideas that it sees as more than just a quick fix.
[Read More]Why free checking may be here to stay
Posted January 26, 2010 | Allison Bisbey ColterThe benefits in terms of driving new customer relationships and deposit growth may outweigh the cost.
[Read More]HuffPo 5: Move your tax money, too
Posted January 26, 2010 | Allison Bisbey ColterEagleBank Chairman and CEO Ronald Paul is taking Arianna Huffingtons Move Your Money campaign to the next level: he wants local governments to shift their deposits to community banks, too.
[Read More]StuyTown is 'Exhibit A' for strategic default apologists
Posted January 25, 2010 | Allison Bisbey ColterTishman Speyer Properties just handed more ammunition to those who argue that homeowners have no particular moral or civic obligation to stay current on their mortgage payments.
[Read More]Volcker rule brings more questions than answers
Posted January 25, 2010 | David FangerIt is uncertain whether the Volcker Rule would lead to reduced risk-taking or more. The proposed restrictions also do not appear to eliminate the problem of too big to fail, which might be more accurately described as too important to fail.
[Read More]Paul Volcker's persistence pays off
Posted January 22, 2010 | BankThinkOver the past year the Obama administration largely brushed off Paul Volckers views about restricting the size and activities of the biggest banks. But Volckers persistence is paying off now.
[Read More]Bloggers blast P2P lending; Prosper fires back
Posted January 21, 2010 | Allison Bisbey ColterTheres a critical discussion of peer-to-peer lending in the blogosphere this week thats definitely worth a read. In a scathing article for The Big Money, Mark Gimein called Prosper Marketplace Inc.s advertised returns misleading. Taking defaults into account, he wrote, the majority of investors who have loaned $188 million through Prospers online exchange have actually lost money.
[Read More]Why HAMP doesn't work
Posted January 21, 2010 | Allison Bisbey ColterIn case you missed it in the Morning Scan, an Op-Ed in today's Wall Street Journal by Arkadi Kuhlmann, CEO of ING Direct USA, offers one of the clearest explanations we've seen for the less-than-stellar results of the Home Affordable Modification Program, or HAMP. (Aside from the fact that HAMP doesn't reduce a borrower's principal, that is.)
[Read More]Stop demonizing U.S. banks
Posted January 20, 2010 | David FangerThe banking industry could defy the old adage about sticks and stones. All the name-calling in Washington these days has the potential to do real damage to banks and the economy.
[Read More]What people are saying about the bank tax
Posted January 19, 2010 | Allison Bisbey ColterEditorials on President Obamas proposed bank tax have been remarkably harmonious, with the majority of media outlets saying that while it may be politically motivated, the plan isnt necessarily bad economic policy. Even the conservative opinion page of The Wall Street Journal, though critical of the tax, complained mainly about Obama's choice of target.
[Read More]'Daily' Skewering
Posted January 19, 2010 | Joe Adler"The Daily Show" last week took a look at the biggest banks' sensitive side. Jon Stewart, the host of the Comedy Central program, was dumbfounded by the government's tepid response to the return of precrisis bonus payments and its insistence that paying anything less than 100% of counterparty claims at the biggest firms when some said they would accept less could trigger a sudden failure.
[Read More]Card companies waive fees on aid to Haiti
Posted January 15, 2010 | Allison Bisbey ColterAmerican Express, Visa, Mastercard and Discover waived the processing fees for donations made to certain charities contributing to relief efforts in Haiti, at least temporarily.
[Read More]Wall Street pledges aid for Haiti
Posted January 14, 2010 | Allison Bisbey ColterFinancial firms are among the biggest corporate donors to the earthquake relief efforsts
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