Stacy Kaper

House Financial Services Committee Democratic leaders introduced a bill Wednesday to expand the Community Reinvestment Act and impose stricter standards on banks.

The House and Senate were expected to approve legislation late Wednesday that would extend the increased loan limits for loans backed by the government-sponsored enterprises and Federal Housing Administration through Sept. 30, 2011.

The Senate Banking Committee has planned a hearing Thursday with regulators on the implementation of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.

The House Financial Services Committee has planned a full committee hearing Wednesday on the future of housing finance.

Sen. Olympia Snowe, the senior Republican on the Senate Small Business Committee, is urging Senate Banking Committee leaders and the Treasury Secretary to provide strict oversight of the $30 billion small business lending fund President Obama signed into law Monday.

OCC comes to the rescue of children; Frank finds "smart" conversation unenlightening; Bachus gets a dig in on Tea Party candidate O'Donnell; and more.

Rep. Spencer Bachus came out swinging Wednesday against speculation he may not become chairman of the House Financial Services Committee if Republicans win control of the House in the midterm elections.

Rep. Spencer Bachus came out swinging Wednesday against speculation he may not become chairman of the House Financial Services Committee if Republicans win control of the House in the upcoming mid-term elections.

Democratic leaders on the House Financial Services Committee are assembling legislation to expand Community Reinvestment Act requirements beyond banks, but may also target financial institutions by adding greater depth of detail to ratings.

Banker-hate takes its toll on would-be gubernatorial candidate and former JPMorgan Chase exec Rick Lazio; role of Tim Geithner cast in financial crisis flick; and more.

WASHINGTON — For months the biggest issue dogging a $30 billion small-business lending fund for community banks was whether it could survive the Senate. But with the bill's 61-38 passage on Thursday, observers quickly began looking ahead to a host of practical questions about how and when the program would be up and running, and whether it would prove more attractive to bankers than the tainted Troubled Asset Relief Program.

WASHINGTON — After nine months of struggle, the Senate finally succeeded Thursday in passing 61 to 38 a bill to create a $30 billion small business lending fund for community banks.

At a Senate Banking Committee hearing, supporters of the plan argued that covered bonds are an untapped channel that could supply additional liquidity to the sluggish mortgage markets.

WASHINGTON — Senate Democrats largely supported the idea of appointing Elizabeth Warren as the temporary head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, with one key exception — Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd — who joined Republicans in arguing such a move would be a "mistake."

With Congress returning from summer recess next week, the House Financial Services Committee has lined up several tentative hearings for the fall on issues such as the government-sponsored enterprises, the Basel Capital Accords and mutual banks.

In the third part of a series exploring how the mid-term elections could affect the banking industry, we examine one thing that should be clear come November: whether or not Republicans succeed in taking control of the Senate, the Banking Committee is going to look a lot different next year.

In the second part of a series exploring how the mid-term elections could affect the banking industry, we examine the fate of the No. 2 Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee, whose potential loss could shake up leadership on the panel.

Though Democrats scored a big political victory in passing regulatory reform, many are already paying for it as the financial services industry directs more of its contributions toward Republicans and moderates who tried to pare back the revamp.

Though Democrats scored a big political victory in passing regulatory reform, many are already paying for it as the financial services industry directs more of its contributions toward Republicans and moderates who tried to pare back the revamp.

In the Senate for decades, Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd found passing regulatory reform to be one of his toughest challenges. In an extensive interview, he relives key moments, responds to criticism of the bill, and reflects on his own disappointments with the final law.