Charlie Shrem, the former Bitcoin Foundation vice chairman who pleaded guilty to federal charges tied to the illicit online bazaar “Silk Road,” was sentenced to 2 years in prison despite his lawyer’s bid for only probation.

Oil at $50 per barrel will almost definitely create problems for banks in oil-producing regions as well as Wall Street financial institutions that finance the sector. Analysts already forecast the price of crude will fall that low — the only other question is how long it might last.

Simmons First National in Pine Bluff, Ark., has extended the termination date for its purchases of two banks due to delays securing regulatory approval.

The $4 trillion in mortgages serviced by the largest financial institutions slightly improved in the third quarter with more loans back in performing status and fewer in serious delinquency, a regulatory report said Friday.

The Federal Housing Administration is facing severe challenges next year as some pressure it to lower premiums to deal with new competition from the government-sponsored enterprises, even while its insurance fund remains weak and it faces added scrutiny from GOP lawmakers.

The layoffs will take place across the $38 billion-asset bank's four-state service area in New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Connecticut, a spokesman for the bank confirmed.

First Guaranty Bancshares in Hammond, La., has postponed its initial public offering, citing "unfavorable market conditions."

Thirteen St. Louis suburbs are named in a civil lawsuit filed Thursday by Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster's office for alleged predatory traffic ticketing.

Sentry Bank in St. Joseph, Minn., has lined up its next president and chief executive.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is suing a Texas-based company, Union Workers Credit Services, for allegedly deceiving consumers into paying fees to sign up for a sham credit card.

A year ago we asked BankThink contributors to make bold predictions about how the financial industry would evolve in 2014. Here's a look back at their forecasts and the actual outcomes.

Benjamin Lawsky, New York's top financial regulator, sharply criticized banks for their failure to speed up the payment system, warning that the government may step in if they continue to lag behind.

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, a division of the Treasury Department, has assessed a $1 million civil penalty against MoneyGram International's former chief compliance officer.

Disciplined pursuit of acquisitions and efficient management of a complex business model have earned Mick Blodnick, the retiring CEO of Montana's largest bank, a spot as one of American Banker's three community bankers of the year.

WASHINGTON - One day a mobile phone giant, the next day a furniture store catering to military service members.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau joined two attorneys general in an enforcement action against Freedom Stores for how it collected debts from service members.

Northrim Bancorp in Anchorage, Alaska, has promoted Joe Beedle to president and chief executive.

Because of a regulatory quirk, Lending Club and its competitors depend on banks to issue their loans. The set-up raises questions about the regulatory outlook for the fast-growing marketplace lending sector.

The former Astoria chief, who died Sunday, took Astoria from a sleepy mutual to the fifth-biggest publicly traded thrift in New York. Engelke was also know for freely speaking his mind while maintaining strong relationships with fellow bankers.

Engine, an industry group for startup businesses, sent an open letter to the Securities and Exchange Commission earlier this week requesting action on the crowdfunding provision within 2012's JOBS Act passed by Congress.