As a consultant to Citibank in the 1970s, former Miss America Bess Myerson helped spearhead landmark consumer reforms — including the first plain-language agreement in the financial services industry.

Webster Financial in Waterbury, Conn., posted higher profits in the fourth quarter, propelled by strong loan demand.

A federal credit report accuracy study found that most consumers who previously reported an unresolved error on one of their three major credit reports believe that at least one piece of disputed information is still inaccurate.

Even if arbitration does turn out to be beneficial for many consumers, Americans should not lose their constitutional right to a day in court without being aware that they are doing so.

KeyCorp in Cleveland beat earnings forecasts on the strength of increased fee income.

BB&T in Winston-Salem, N.C., posted higher quarterly profit that relied heavily on cost control.

Royal Bank of Canada is ready to take another shot at U.S. banking, agreeing to buy City National in Los Angeles.

The $794 million-asset Kentucky Bancshares will pay $7.2 million, or $32.50 a share, in stock for the $121 million-asset Madison.

Earnings at Discover Financial Services plunged by 33% in the fourth quarter, largely due to a charge tied to the firm's mortgage business and a previously announced revision to its flagship credit card program.

Hearing arguments in Texas case, Justice Scalia and others were skeptical that the controversial legal theory used in fair housing cases should be invalidated.

Fifth Third Bancorp and U.S. Bancorp say they will delicately approach expenses in 2015 — or at least until rates rise. They are investing where they must, but pinching where they can, and trying to manage expectations on loan growth.

Two Minnesota senators introduced a bill Tuesday to add language to the definition of "collector" and "collection agency" that includes debt buyers, a move that would require buyers to become licensed as collectors in the state.

U.S. banks are cutting off payday lenders' access to a database of account information used to evaluate potential borrowers as regulators seek to rein in abusive practices.

Citigroup has begun forgiving some consumer debt in accordance with a July settlement with the Justice Department, but this is relief that the bank may have provided even without the settlement, an independent monitor said Wednesday.

A top U.S. executive at Honda Motor Co. said competitors are doing "stupid things" to boost auto sales, including making seven-year-long car loans that harm buyers.

Five Star Bank is the latest financial institution to settle claims that it avoided lending to minorities. More redlining cases can be expected, industry experts say.

While banks have generally been cool to virtual currency, the technology that powers Bitcoin is of considerable interest — enough to draw millions of investment dollars from several traditional financial companies.

Stephen Platt, a forensic investigations consultant and author of Criminal Capital: How the Finance Industry Facilitates Crime, explains why bank directors' fear of revealing their ignorance is dangerous for financial institutions.

The FTC has issued a complaint against a Texas-based debt collection operation and its current and former principals for threatening consumers with false claims that unless they pay a debt, they will face legal action or wage garnishment.

United Community Banks in Blairsville, Ga., reported higher quarterly profit because of loan growth and higher fee revenue.