BankThink

While it is undoubtedly possible to create standalone institutions that can weather almost any financial storm, the capital and liquidity levels of those institutions will seriously limit their usefulness as engines of economic growth.

For most of the banking industry, the ability to generate real-time views and assessments of risk across a company – right down to the transaction level – remains dangerously elusive.

Farming Fiesta, Targeting Cyber-Security

Chairman Mary Jo White may have promised more enforcement actions, but a pursuit of minor infractions could increase the likelihood that the SEC, already operating on a tight budget, will miss major ones.

In an increasingly commoditized industry, our people can be one of the few true differentiators left. But the model that has them forever sitting in buildings that fewer and fewer people utilize makes less strategic sense each year.

Complex World of Banker Bonuses; U.K. Issues Libor Warning

Lack of bank transparency makes it difficult to see the extent of bank exposures to emerging markets and whether financial firms are adequately capitalized to withstand unexpected losses from this market turmoil … or any other.

Federal legislation is needed to enhance cyber-threat information sharing so that good-faith responsive actions and information sharing will not trigger legal liability.

Under current conditions, bank executives would be crazy to hold back. If they get caught, they can pay their way out of the problems with shareholders’ money. And if their misdeeds pay off as expected, the profits will goose their pay.

Contrary to sensationalistic headlines, community banks remain the lenders of choice for small businesses, who appreciate these institutions’ expertise and personal attention.