BankThink

It's the "Don't Know What You Don't Know" that can give you a false sense of security, or can keep you up at night wondering if there is some regulation or industry requirement you're not complying with, or if there is something out there that will change, or is currently changing, your sensitive data from private to public.

Major crises, financial or otherwise, are one of the few effective catalysts for reconsideration of public policy. But even in moments of crisis, the political process steers debate toward quick fixes that merely address symptoms, and not root causes.

Will eliminating free checking prove as unpalatable to banks as to consumers?

EagleBank Chairman and CEO Ronald Paul is taking Arianna Huffington’s “Move Your Money” campaign to the next level.

Tishman Speyer Properties just handed more ammunition to those who argue that homeowners have no particular moral or civic obligation to stay current on their mortgage payments.

It is uncertain whether the Volcker Rule would lead to reduced risk-taking – or more. The proposed restrictions also do not appear to eliminate the problem of “too big to fail,” which might be more accurately described as “too important to fail.”

Noticed an ad recently that appeared in Enterprise, the magazine of Canada's credit union movement. The ad was from AIG and was headlined, "We can't predict the future..." Talk about living your message.

Are you overwhelmed with the regulations and requirements to keep your data secure? Are all the reports in the news of security breaches exposing sensitive information causing you, your senior management team and board serious concern about your ability to keep sensitive information private? If not, should you feel overwhelmed and concerned?

As I sat there listening to the Countess, my mind kept wandering into dangerous territory. After all, it's highly unwise to lose focus when $400 billion and the balance of power in our American Democracy are up for grabs! The Countess was earnest; this was really serious stuff-the 2010 U.S. Census!

Over the past year the Obama administration largely brushed off Paul Volcker’s views about restricting the size and activities of the biggest banks. But Volcker’s persistence is paying off now