Folks often ask me how we come up with ideas for the stories published in American Banker Magazine. My answer is that there are all kinds of ways, and this issue perfectly illustrates several of them.

Be proud, Gen-X bankers. You are the "hybrid" breed of old school and new school in an industry that needs both, consultant Richard Henry writes.

The success of early microfinance programs has attracted big money, and big problems, to the business. A new study details how the mission of microlending has gotten off track, and why helping impoverished women is getting harder to do.

The top 200 community banks and thrifts as ranked by three-year average ROE.

State Street's David Saul argues big data is better when it's smart data.

Banking, mortgage rules on the agenda at statehouses around the country.

A spate of denial-of-service attacks on 13 major banks has the industry scrambling.

Generations Bank CEO stops in for coffee, steps out with idea for new auto loan program.

Senior bank executives gather at a retail summit to hatch a new profitability roadmap.

Brian Moynihan wins over Charlie Rose, TD CEO Ed Clark thinks he's rushing TD successor Bharat Masrani, and Sy Naqvi leaves PNC Mortgage, again.

Notable quotes from Jim Rohr, Ben Bernanke, Eric Holder, Carl Levin and more.