BankThink

Proposed legislation that encourages utility companies to report positive payment data is just one way to improve underserved consumers' access to high-quality credit products they can truly afford.

The current argument for new MMF "remedies" seems implicitly to be based on the assumption that runs cannot be anticipated and on the notion that the run that followed Reserve's action sprung unexpectedly and without warning from the Lehman filing.

Receiving Wide Coverage ...Well, that's that. Despite a few seats changing hands, both the executive and legislative branches are going to look the same as they did before the election, plus one Elizabeth Warren. How we got there involves a feisty Republican primary, plenty of vitriol over basic facts and statistics, and a broad win for the president that was shallower than the one four years ago.

Does your bank open early, close late and welcome you seven days a week? Does it let one person tell you yes, but require at least two to say no?

Success of the CFPB/FHFA Mortgage database will depend on how regulators handle four areas: Collaboration, scope, privacy and the regulatory burden, writes columnist Clifford Rossi.

Complex rules can be bent to special interests, and invite gaming and unfairness. An example is the exclusion of credit cards that don't impose "finance charges" from a great many requirements.

If the House goes to the Republicans, Rep. Jeb Hensarling of Texas will most likely be the next head of the Financial Services Commmittee. A Dodd-Frank revamp and GSE reform will be his twin causes, predict observers.

Success will depend on how regulators handle four areas: Collaboration, scope, privacy and the regulatory burden.

What happens when the government’s investors start demanding a normal rate of interest? House prices could plummet, mortgage defaults could soar and the added interest costs could cause the federal deficit to spiral out of control.

Receiving Wide Coverage ...Election Day Has Arrived: It seems remiss not to at least mention the story set to dominate today's news cycle. That is, of course, the presidential election, which appears virtually deadlocked as polls open today throughout the U.S. Some notable (and arguably left-leaning) pundits are predicting President Barack Obama will maintain the electoral edge exhibited in key swing state poll results and keep the presidency, while other (arguably right-leaning) pundits are arguing Mitt Romney's national momentum will peak at just the right time and ensure victory. (The Washington Post actually has a pretty good round-up of notable pundit predictions, in case you're interested in that type of thing.) Either way, we should know the results by this time tomorrow. Unless, of course, Ohio — or possibly another battleground state — needs to hold a recount. (We're a little inclined to echo New York Times blogger Ross Douthat's sentiments here: "But for the love all that's holy don't give us a recount in Ohio.") In either or, perhaps, any event, while you're waiting for the polls to close, you can catch up on how the election is likely to affect the economy (according to Dealbook, don't expect either outcome to solve all puzzles), how it may impact the markets (via the FT) or how it's likely to impact the jobs of top U.S. banking regulators (via American Banker).