Joe Adler

Banking analysts, former regulators, lawmakers, banking industry representatives and top academics spent more than an hour and a half debating how best to resolve the issue of "too big to fail" on Tuesday, and came away with no easy solutions.

Sens. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, and David Vitter, R-La., speaking at a forum co-hosted by American Banker, hinted at several potential changes from a draft copy of the legislation that was leaked to the media earlier this month.

Regulators seized two banks in Florida, and one in Kentucky, in a trio of failures Friday.

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency's has decided that trust-only banks must first get FDIC insurance, a move that may drive greater interest in state trust charters and subject some parties to a federal freeze on nonfinancial firms owning limited-purpose banks.

Scott Alvarez, the Federal Reserve Board's general counsel, told lawmakers that the Fed's use of special Dodd-Frank powers to take apart banks that are a "grave threat" to the economy would likely depend on the circumstances of each situation.

Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Chairman Martin Gruenberg said regulators are homing in on concerns expressed by community banks in discussions on finalizing the capital rule.

Companies that submitted initial resolution plans last year to the Fed and FDIC under Dodd-Frank must detail in their second drafts how they would address impediments to a wind-down and follow the series of steps required for bankruptcy.

Special FDIC protection for losses suffered by failed-bank buyers still exists, but a better real estate market and bidders' increased confidence in their asset management skills are making it rarer.

As part of a regular update of its finances, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. said it will return amounts from the 2009 prepayment that were unnecessary.

CEO Michael Corbat presided over an executive-studded branch opening in Washington on Wednesday, promoting Citigroup's commitment to tech-heavy urban locations even as the bank closes branches elsewhere.

Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Vice Chairman Thomas Hoenig continued his drumbeat for a more straightforward capital measure in Basel III, and disputed arguments that a stronger leverage ratio will have unintended consequences.

Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP announced last week that Dwight Smith, a former attorney with the now-closed Office of Thrift Supervision, was joined the firm's Washington office as a partner.

Ronald F. Bieker, a 25-year veteran of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., has joined the banking and financial advisory team of SolomonEdwards as a senior executive advisor.

WASHINGTON — State regulators in Arizona closed the $45 million-asset Gold Canyon Bank late Friday, the fifth bank failure this year.

The Fed, FDIC and OCC have so far given no indication of developing a public complaint database like the one managed by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, but that could soon change.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau announced enforcement orders against four mortgage insurance firms that allegedly provided kickbacks to lenders, but the agency signaled additional actions are in the offing.

Responding to feedback from community banks about the need for more technical assistance, the FDIC unveiled the first of three online video series to help train new officers and directors.

Small-business loans resulting from a government program jumped by 20% during the fourth quarter, with the Treasury estimating it has helped more than 38,000 total loans since it began nearly two years ago.

More than 300,000 people have signed a petition calling on the Obama administration to "repudiate" Attorney General Eric Holder's remarks suggesting some banks are "too big to jail."

The Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council, which appoints a chairperson on a rotating basis, named Comptroller of the Currency Thomas Curry to a two-year term.