Wells Fargo puts two top execs on leave as scandal's reach grows

Hope Hardison, Chief Administrative Officer at Wells Fargo.
Hope Hardison, Wells Fargo's chief administrative officer since 2015, and David Julian, its chief auditor since 2012, have both been removed from the bank's operating committee and begun leaves of absence in the latest fallout from the bank's phony-accounts scandal.

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Regional banks' reg relief triumph gives way to new battle

SunTrust Banks sign
Signage is displayed outside a SunTrust Banks Inc. branch in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2018. SunTrust Banks Inc. is scheduled to release earnings on January 19. Photographer: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg
Banks technically relieved of the "systemically important" label in last spring's legislative package are lobbying regulators hard over concerns that they could still face tough standards.

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FDIC to launch innovation office to help banks compete with fintechs

FDIC Chairman Jelena McWilliams
Jelena McWilliams, chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), speaks during a Senate Banking Committee hearing in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2018. The hearing focused on implementation of a new law easing Dodd-Frank Act rules on community and midsize banks. Photographer: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg
"We have actually discouraged banks from innovating," FDIC Chairman Jelena McWilliams said in announcing a move that other agencies have made.

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Capital One hit with $100M fine over AML deficiencies

Capital One branch
The consent order between the Federal Reserve and Capital One required the bank to submit progress reports on its efforts to improve its risk management functions.
The civil money penalty from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency follows a 2015 consent order against the bank, which became a subject of federal questioning after it suspended its business with check cashers.

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PNC to debut entirely digital small-business loans

Table showing small-business digital lending platforms at four big banks
The $380-billion asset company will soon join the parade of big banks and tech companies that are migrating online to meet the demands of business owners.

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JPMorgan Chase inks fourth data aggregator deal

JPMorgan Chase signage is displayed at a bank branch in New York.
Plaid will be able to access the bank's customer information through a secure API. JPMorgan has similar agreements with three other fintechs.

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U.S. Bancorp to shed more than 700 jobs

Branch of U.S. Bank, US Bank, U.S. Bancorp.
Signage is displayed at a US Bancorp branch in Louisville, Kentucky, U.S., on Thursday, July 12, 2018. US Bancorp is scheduled to release earnings figures on July 18. Photographer: Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg
The Minneapolis company said in an email to American Banker that it would reduce its headcount by approximately 1%, or about 740 positions, across the company.

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Alarm bells for CRE lenders after Bank OZK's bad quarter

AB-101918-OZARKS.jpeg
The company is facing criticism after a big chargeoff on two properties, showing that investors have little patience when a risky business model shows signs of distress.

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Regionals won't be making any major deals. Here's why

Selected nonbank M&A deals by regional banks over the past year
On paper, conditions would seem favorable for regional banks to pursue acquisitions in order to overcome organic growth challenges. But executives have poured cold water on that idea in recent days.

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Evidence is now clear: Operation Choke Point hurt lawful businesses

Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer, R-Mo.
New court documents underscore the damage inflicted by the Obama administration's de-risking initiative, argues Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer.

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