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A recap of the informed opinions (and the discussions they generated) on BankThink this week, including whether independent consultants should be criminally liable for misrepresentations in their reports and whether higher rates will help or hurt banks.

An NCUA proposal to make credit unions more competitive commercial lenders is drawing fire from community bankers, who say it invites risky underwriting, unfair competition and a repeat of the thrift crisis.

Lawmakers included a measure that will impose new mortgage reporting requirements on banks and servicers as part of a short-term highway funding bill passed this week by both chambers of Congress.

Marlin Business Bank has launched a new site to compete with alternative lenders such as OnDeck and Kabbage, which specialize in providing quick and convenient access to small-business credit.

Investors Bancorp in Short Hills, N.J., reported higher second-quarter profit on expanded multifamily, commercial real estate and business lending, as well as lower expenses.

Fourth Corner Credit Union, chartered last year to serve Colorado's legal marijuana industry, has filed lawsuits against the National Credit Union Administration and the Federal Reserve after having its applications rejected for share deposit insurance and access to the Fed system, respectively.

A Consumer Financial Protection Bureau plan detailing ways to protect consumers from payday lending "debt traps" has earned widespread support from Americans, according to a survey by Pew Charitable Trusts.

Financial institutions that make routine collection calls now face the threat of "robocall" class action lawsuits. Earlier this month, things went from bad to worse for banks that have not committed any abusive robo-calling practices.

Wells Fargo is ending some marketing arrangements with real estate firms and home builders over concerns about regulatory scrutiny.

American Banker readers share their views on the most pressing banking topics of the week. Comments are excerpted from reader response sections of AmericanBanker.com articles and from our social media platforms.

Valley National in Wayne, N.J., reported an increase in second-quarter earnings on expanded commercial real estate and business lending.

Santander Consumer USA Holdings expects to endure more credit losses in the coming quarters, as it expands its portfolio of higher yielding, subprime loans. But its CEO sought to assure investors that its profits would far exceed those costs.

Buying Eagle National Bank would give Stroudsburg, Pa.-based ESSA an entrée into Philly's fast-growing western suburbs.

The bank plans to use the proceeds for general corporate purposes, including possible acquisitions such as potential FDIC-assisted transactions. Iberiabank may also use the proceeds for working capital and for investments in subsidiaries to support continued growth.

United Community Banks in Blairsville, Ga., has filed a shelf registration for senior notes to help pay for its acquisition of a South Carolina bank.

Home Affordable Modification Program denial rates are still high, but the Treasury Department and top mortgage servicers contend that the numbers have improved.

The Federal Housing Administration is expected to rebuff a government watchdog report that blasted down payment assistance programs. The report has raised concerns that mortgage lenders would have to indemnify FHA for past loans, and that housing finance agencies would have the programs restructured.

Financial institutions take information security concerns very seriously, but few make it a priority to keep accountholders updated on their safeguarding efforts.

Mortgage servicer Residential Credit Solutions agreed Thursday to pay $1.5 million for blocking consumers’ attempts to keep their homes from foreclosure.