Jeanine Skowronski

A positive spin around branches will proliferate, as will talk about wearable tech. Oh, and expect tons of M&A -- between banks and nonbanks.

American Banker held its Retail Banking 2014 conference in Orlando, FL this week. Here, in tweets, are a few of its takeaways.

Media Loses Mind After Newsweek Maybe Unmasks Creator of Bitcoin

The 'Emerging Prime' Market; Barclays' Bonus Explanation Falls Flat

Receiving Wide Coverage ...Closer to Bitcoin Regulation: Japan is close to regulating cryptocurrency Bitcoin, following the collapse of Tokyo-based exchange Mt. Gox. Draft regulation, which includes a tax on Bitcoin transactions and prohibits banks and securities firms from handling the cryptocurrency, appears to treat Bitcoin more like a commodity than an actual currency, but a lawmaker, who opposes the plan, has asked for clarification. One look at this Journal quote from an anonymouse and you will understand why: "What we are considering is that bitcoin isn't a currency, but that doesn't mean it will automatically be categorized as a commodity." Despite the lack of clarity, there's already been some criticism of Japan's proposal. "If banks and securities firms can't handle Bitcoins, Japanese consumers will be stuck with illegal shadow banks like Mt. Gox, and their risk will be much higher as a result,'' one source tells Dealbook. Meanwhile, another Bitcoin site, Flexcoin, said it was shutting down on Tuesday after losing about $600,000 worth of bitcoins to a hacker attack. And Dealbook reminds everyone about Silk Road — "the online marketplace where drugs and weapons could be bought with Bitcoin" — by reporting that Christopher Nadovich, director of laboratories in the electrical and computer engineering department at Lafayette College, had a small role in the federal investigation that resulted in the site's shutdown this fall, as he provided a back-up server to the website.

Banks Hit by Turmoil in Ukraine; More Bad News for Citi

PNC Subpoenaed; Citi Reports Fraud; The Future of Bitcoin

Yellen Talks Weather; Mt. Gox Files for Bankruptcy

More RBS Woes; Credit Suisse Goes to Washington

What Mt. Gox Means for Bitcoin; JPM's Cautious Outlook

So Much for a Goldman Tell-All; HSBC Bonus Spin

Fed Gives Everyone a Reason to Revisit the Financial Crisis; HSBC Earnings

There are plenty of reasons why small banks may be reluctant to amp up their social media presence. But this week's bad weather illustrates how these platforms can provide a real value-add.

Yellen on the Hill; Traders Using Lasers

The U.S. Postal Service offering financial services to the underserved would be a great idea. If the U.S. Postal Service weren't, you know, the U.S. Postal Service.

Lawsky Halts Wells Deal; Barclays Gives Junior Trader Tryout at Forex Desk

Lawsky Launches Forex Probe; Credit Suisse Earnings

Complex World of Banker Bonuses; U.K. Issues Libor Warning

Lloyds' Good News/Bad News Earnings; B of A's Mostly Approved Mortgage Settlement

When taken together, the posts in our What Customers Want series thus far point to opportunities for banks to innovate around the good old George Bailey banking model.