Polo Rocha is a Washington D.C.-based reporter who covers consumer finance and national banking trends. He previously covered the Federal Reserve at S&P Global Market Intelligence and state politics at WisPolitics.com. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and has a master's in finance degree from Johns Hopkins University.
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The Alabama-based regional bank didn't effectively track whether some loans complied with flood insurance regulations, according to the Fed. Regions said that it had fixed the issue by 2017.
By Polo RochaAugust 22 -
Tighter credit standards and lower demand for business loans could make it harder for the Fed to achieve the soft landing it's seeking. Still, bankers are cautiously optimistic, noting that some businesses are using their savings to invest at a time when borrowing costs are high.
By Sabrina LeeAugust 20 -
The embattled credit card company, which is bracing for regulatory action, warned Thursday that heavy spending on risk management and compliance will persist. Executives also said that internal and external candidates will be considered for the permanent CEO job.
By Polo RochaAugust 17 -
The credit card company is no stranger to regulatory penalties, but its CEO's sudden departure this week raises the specter of a more painful punishment tied to possible compliance shortcomings. Analysts are hoping to get clarity Thursday on how bad things could get.
By Polo RochaAugust 16 -
JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo and TD Auto Finance all see opportunities in providing financing to dealers for inventory, the purchase of competitors and the addition of infrastructure for electric vehicle sales. Two other banks recently said they're exiting the business, which could provide a further opening.
By Polo RochaAugust 15 -
The company is rolling out a special-purpose credit program to help address what it describes as "the biggest barriers to achieving homeownership." Such programs are gaining popularity among banks.
By Polo RochaAugust 10 -
The deal with private equity firm KKR follows an earlier announced sale of $1.3 billion in medical office loans. The Columbus, Georgia-based company has said it's "proactively optimizing the balance sheet" to position itself for long-term growth.
By Polo RochaAugust 9 -
U.S. consumers set a new record during the second quarter, as card debt reached $1.03 trillion. Bankers say a healthy job market has allowed consumers to keep making their monthly payments, but they're also on guard about the impact of the upcoming resumption of federal student loan payments.
By Polo RochaAugust 8 -
Much of the industry is slimming down, with some banks calling it quits on riskier sectors and selling loans they no longer want. The trend is particularly prominent at regional banks that are preparing to comply with new capital rules.
By Polo RochaAugust 6 -
While financial markets wobbled after Fitch Ratings reduced the U.S. government's credit rating, analysts said the action should have little long-term impact, similar to a downgrade by Standard & Poor's in 2011. JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon argued that Fitch's action "doesn't really matter that much."
By Polo RochaAugust 2