Capital One Financial (COF) has consolidated its commercial real estate lending units, in an attempt to further integrate Beech Street Capital, the multifamily mortgage firm it acquired last year.

They look great on paper, but mergers of equals are always difficult to integrate due to cultural issues. United Financial in Glastonbury, Conn., is learning that lesson with Jeff Sullivan's departure less than six weeks after the company's merger with Rockville Financial.

Subprime auto lender Consumer Portfolio Services has agreed to pay more than $5.5 million to settle government allegations that it used illegal tactics in the servicing and collection of loans.

Capital One's decision to ditch coin-counting machines from its Washington-area branches is either a brilliant move to save money, or is a surefire way to anger customers who like the convenience of using the machines. It has stimulated surprising debate in an electronic age, but it's all about attempts to redefine the bank branch.

A reduction in mortgage rates has boosted Home Affordable Refinance Program refinancings, according to non-bank servicer Walter Investment Management Corp.

Bitcoin entrepreneur Erik Voorhees will pay more than $50,000 to settle charges by the Securities and Exchange Commission that he failed to register a stock offering.

Astoria Financial has shifted its attention away from residential mortgages to becoming a full-service bank that offers business banking and commercial real estate loans.

Visa Inc. Chief Financial Officer Byron H. Pollitt Jr., who joined the biggest bank-card network the year before its 2008 IPO, will retire within the next 12 months.

Bank of the Carolinas (BCAR) in Mocksville, N.C., has significantly increased its number of authorized shares at it looks to meet capital requirements tied to a regulatory order.

A proposed bill would allow banks to receive a one-time tax credit for charged-off consumer debt. Banks would then donate the debt to non-profits dedicated to helping consumers repay their loans without resorting to litigation or charging interest.

The Federal Trade Commission has charged an operation that billed consumers up to $10,000 after falsely claiming it would settle debts and repair their credit.

U.S. consumer daily spending jumped in May, fueled by highest three-day average since 2008.

One of the largest jury awards against a credit reporting agency was reduced on appeal and the agency is appealing again.

CU Bancorp (CUNB) in Encino, Calif., has agreed to buy 1st Enterprise Bank (FENB) in Los Angeles.

E-commerce and payments companies are edging into the small-business lending territory long dominated by banks. If banks want to stay relevant, they need a simpler, speedier lending process.

Independent Bank Group (IBTX) in McKinney, Texas, has agreed to buy Houston City Bancshares.

First BanCorp (FBP) in San Juan, Puerto Rico, has resolved a large outstanding loan to Doral Financial (DRL) by taking on $242 million on mortgages that were used as collateral for the loan.

Peter Setaro, the chief information officer for First National Bank of the Gulf Coast, is stocking branches with free wifi and Kindles for customers to use.

Apple Inc. changed its policy to let software developers include virtual-currency transactions in their applications, paving the way for new forms of money like bitcoin to appear on iPhones and iPads.