BankThink

Recognition by a market-based standards organization such as ISO, in the form of a three-letter code, would set the stage for increasing market depth and liquidity of bitcoin trading – in turn facilitating overall consumer and merchant adoption.

The very customer banks should be looking to for future loan and deposit growth receives more solicitations from AT&T or Sprint than she receives from her own bank.

Receiving Wide Coverage ...More Mortgage Job Cuts: Wells Fargo says it plans to cut 2,300 mortgage-related jobs nationwide. The FT calls the cuts, which are the third and largest wave of mortgage-related layoffs Wells has announced this year, "part of a renewed push by John Stumpf, chief executive, to cut Wells' overall costs to help offset lower mortgage lending and falling profit margins." The Journal suggests the news is ominous. "The job cuts highlight the bank's belief that the mortgage market is headed for a dive," the paper notes. "Other banks could soon follow." Both Bank of America and Citigroup are among lenders who have already announced cutbacks at their mortgage units this year.

By advocating for their outdated tax exemption, credit union lobbyists are advocating for a tax increase on every business in America.

Things are bad, very bad, for the large banks when the Atlantic magazine runs this headline: "Did Bank of America's Long Hours Kill a Summer Intern?"

Steve Bartlett is joining Treliant Risk Advisors early next month. It'll be a part-time gig, but the former Financial Services Roundtable CEO plans to make Treliant his home base for the range of consulting work he's picked up since leaving the Roundtable late last year.

According to a report released by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, mortgage servicing issues continue to be a significant problem despite the efforts of a renewed focus after the foreclosure crisis.

Banks have made an effort to address the many deficiencies in risk management that surfaced during the crisis, but their execution has been lackluster. They should have accomplished more in five years.

Morgan Drexen, a debt-relief provider, is being sued by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau for false marketing a month after the same company filed suit against the agency.

Policymakers and law enforcement should work with the Bitcoin community to realize the potential benefits of censorship-resistant money—and to develop tools and techniques to address the technology’s potential misuse.