AML

With the stakes so high for compliance officers, their rights and responsibilities should be clearly defined, including a safe harbor for those who play by the rules.

Inefficient, paper-bound processes, oligopolies that can charge high prices, the Rube Goldberg structure of correspondent banking, and excessive regulation all make it expensive for migrants to send money home. Technology is a big part of the answer.

The Bancorp in Wilmington, Del., named Sepideh Behram to the role of chief compliance officer. Her hiring comes as the $4.8 billion-asset company works to shore up its risk and compliance management.

The pressure on banks to become less risky backfires when they respond by curtailing services that are vital in a functioning financial system.

The marijuana industry is still hampered by its own banking crisis, but the rigidity of federal laws is not stopping all advances in financial services for the sector.

Federal and state banking regulators are still struggling with how to come to grips with banks whose clients are heavily involved in digital currencies like bitcoin — and that may be curbing interest from many in the financial industry.

Money-laundering episodes included a purported Whitey Bulger associate looting a church's coffers and the arrest of a Houston socialite on gambling-related charges.

A Colorado credit union's failed court battle against the Fed has led to renewed calls for U.S. lawmakers to offer stronger protections to financial institutions that provide banking services to legal pot growers and distributors.

After enduring a slew of post-crisis scandals, bankers are beginning to see the light on becoming stewards of their organizations.

A new digital currency backed by gold is billing itself as a more compliant, liquid and ultimately reliable store of value than decentralized systems such as bitcoin.