Commonwealth Financial Network, which boasts one of the largest fleets of high-end independent advisers, is instituting new rewards for enriching the firm.

The niche-oriented New York company attributes much of the success to investor demand for two of its specialties: gold and hard assets.

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Zions' Harris Simmons named Banker of the Year; distilling the hopes and hang-ups around CRA reform; new grist in still ongoing debate over Operation Choke Point; and more from this week's most-read stories.

Lawmakers have had to extend the program eight times since October 2017, as Congress has been unable to pass broader reforms.

The Federal Housing Administration's risk-sharing program with the Federal Financing Bank began as a temporary fix, but the agency is exploring how to make it more permanent.

Diane Morais, the bank's consumer and commercial banking president, writes that eliminating overdrafts has had little impact on the bottom line, and she encourages more banks to do the same.

Overdraft fees are criticized as unfair penalties for lower-income customers, but they are often better for consumers than getting purchases rejected.

A new proposal to allow the Small Business Administration to offer credit directly would pull customers away from community lenders, writes the head of a credit union trade group.