BankThink

Even financial institutions that have updated their practices still don’t hit the basic benchmarks of transparency and fairness.

Allowing the Small Business Administration to originate, rather than just guarantee, loans would provide much-needed capital to startups and mom-and-pop shops that many banks, credit unions and other lenders view as risky credits.

American banks need the kind of clear rules European institutions have enjoyed for several years if they're to become leaders in sharing consumer data with fintechs.

Online lenders are a fast-growing sector of the financial system that hardly existed when the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau was created. The bureau should hold fintech lenders to the same standards as banks to eliminate a blind spot in supervision.

Having the U.S. Postal Service offer bank accounts is a bad idea for many reasons, including privacy concerns. The USPS, which has reportedly spied on Americans' social media accounts, cannot be trusted with a window into their finances.

Traditional financial institutions face pressure to imitate fintechs that have brought many consumers into the mainstream. Yet cash must be a key part of efforts to expand access, since it's still crucial for many low-income families, the elderly, migrants and others.

Banks should be careful not to overreact to the pandemic recession and assume that the public is willing to forgo personal service. More than 40% of consumers say having a branch nearby is their primary reason for picking a bank.

Companies like Ally are mimicking the approach of fintechs by curbing overdraft charges and instituting other changes. It is a sign that startups’ efforts to improve customer experience were successful and that competition in digital-first banking will intensify.

An app that strives to be a "one-stop shop" for all money matters is likely to please nobody.

Merchants and banks have taken predictably opposing positions on a Federal Reserve proposal to increase competition among networks that route online debit transactions. But amid the hundreds of comments, it's those from supposedly neutral parties — the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission — that stand out.