Polo Rocha

In February 2018, the Federal Reserve prohibited the San Francisco-based bank from growing beyond $1.95 trillion. Five years later, analysts, investors and lawmakers are left with more questions than answers about the unprecedented enforcement action.

Regulators are bringing enforcement cases while also proposing wider changes that would alter the industry for years to come. The scrutiny covers pricing discrimination, products that make car purchases more expensive and lenders' handling of repossessions.

After soured loans rose above the private student lender's expectations in 2022, its stock price fell 16% on Thursday. One analyst wrote that "persistent credit issues have damaged management's credibility."

A plan released Wednesday by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau was more aggressive than anticipated, leading to share price declines at Synchrony Financial, Capital One and Bread Financial. "This skews toward the worst-case scenario," one analyst wrote.

The San Mateo, California-based online consumer lender has now laid off some 500 employees in recent months. The downsizing reflects broader challenges in the tech industry, but it also comes as Upstart struggles to get enough funding for its loans.

The Rosemont, Illinois-based bank said its longtime CEO Ed Wehmer will retire from the post in May and become executive chairman. Timothy Crane, who joined Wintrust in 2008 and became its president in 2020, will take over the top job.

Credit Acceptance Corp., a major name in subprime auto finance, is facing a legal challenge over its lending practices. Some lawyers and analysts say the company's battle with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has broader implications for the rest of the industry.

The Boston bank reported broad-based increases in loans during the fourth quarter, and said it's upbeat about its forecast for 2023. "I think the reason why we're comfortable is because we haven't changed our credit box at all," said CEO Nitin Mhatre.

The McLean, Virginia-based bank is building its deposit base — in contrast with many banks that are starting to see outflows. But the growth is accompanied by rising interest expenses, which are expected to cut modestly into profit margins this year.

The declining credit quality included more borrowers with higher credit scores falling behind on their credit card payments. But executives said the increase remains within expectations as it continues seeing "very linear normalization" in credit.

The Wall Street Journal reported the Fed is investigating Goldman Sachs' Marcus division, the company's effort to reach U.S. consumers that has been scaled back. The New York bank's stock fell 2.5% after the news.

More consumers are struggling to pay their auto loans from Detroit-based Ally, but CEO Jeffrey Brown says executives "feel very good" about their preparations for a downturn. Investors appeared to like his message as its stock jumped 19%.

The Dallas-based bank, whose deposit base is more commercial-focused, has seen significant outflows in deposits over the past year. But last quarter's declines were "better than we expected," and there are other signs that the environment may moderate this year, its CFO said.

The Boston-based bank, which has undergone numerous leadership changes in recent years, hired a new commercial banking head and a new chief credit officer. CEO Nihin Mhatre said the bank is in a "very, very good spot" as his transformation of the company proceeds.

Goldman Sachs provided more details on its pullback from its once-grand ambitions to expand into consumer finance. Though parts of that strategy will remain, the New York bank will halt its personal loan business and postpone offering a checking account for its wealth management customers.

JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo and the Bank of New York Mellon all announced plans to restart or increase their buybacks this year after a sharp drop-off in 2022. Bank of America's CEO also said the company is "back in the game."

Significantly fewer households expected to be in worse shape in the coming year than was the case last summer, according to a December survey. The results are a positive sign for banks at the start of earnings season.

Many in Utqiagvik, Alaska, say they like banking with the country's fourth-largest bank. But they also want more banking options in their town, a reality that rural communities across the United States face.

At the start of 2022, banks sat atop a flood of deposits. But as the year progressed, they faced greater pressure to pay higher rates, and the trends that drove the rapid shift show no signs of abating.

The state's Department of Financial Services issued proposed guidelines on how banks and mortgage lenders should manage climate-related risks. But the guidance was quickly slammed by a trade group representing community banks.