Banks and credit unions are outperforming retailers in the war against credit card fraud, according to a new survey from Javelin Strategy & Research.

Xenith Bankshares (XBKS) in Richmond, Va., disclosed that Malcolm McDonald will retire as chairman at the end of his current term.

Discover Financial Services (DFS) rode credit card loan growth in the fourth quarter to earnings of $602 million, an increase of nearly 12% over the same period in 2012.

Rockville Financial (RCBK) in Glastonbury, Conn., is beefing up its mortgage lending operation ahead of its pending merger with United Financial (UBNK) in Massachusetts.

Pulaski Financial (PULB) in St. Louis plans to take out a $10 million loan in order to redeem preferred stock shares issued to the Treasury Department under the Troubled Asset Relief Program.

In a letter to two trade groups, Assistant Attorney General Stuart Delery pledged to work to minimize collateral damage from the investigation.

BancorpSouth (BXS) in Tupelo, Miss., reported a big jump in profit as credit quality continued to improve.

Farmers Capital Bank (FFKT) in Frankfort, Ky., is one step closer to being freed from a regulatory order.

Executives at KeyCorp and Fifth Third Bancorp said they are noticing increased consumer confidence, which would translate into more lending opportunities this year.

Paydiant has received a patent covering technology that allows consumers to withdraw cash out of ATMs with their smartphones, a feature that it says should appeal to banks.

Perhaps more community banks should think boldly like TriCo Bancshares. The small California bank's deal to buy another rural lender, North Valley Bancorp, could give it the scale it needs to knock heads with Wells Fargo and B of A, its execs say.

The Target and Neiman Marcus breaches have reignited data security as an issue on Capitol Hill, but many hurdles still stand in the way of legislation.

Flagstar Bancorp (FBC) in Troy, Mich., outstripped earnings estimates by a wide margin as the company received a $410 million tax benefit and slashed its loan-loss provision by 72%.

Columbia Banking System (COLB) in Tacoma, Wash., reported higher quarterly earnings buoyed by last year's purchase of West Coast Bancorp in Lake Oswego, Ore.

Financial institutions that can figure out how to couple an efficient and optimized loan process with personalized service will win in the future.

Coinmkt, a digital currency exchange based in Los Angeles, has opened an account with E-Trade to allow users to deposit U.S. dollars into the exchange as wire transfers from U.S. bank accounts.

Barkocy, research director of Mendon Capital Advisors, salutes his mentors and confesses a soft spot for small banks as he prepares to wrap up a career that lasted nearly five decades.

PacWest Bancorp (PACW) of Los Angeles reported a steep decline in quarterly earnings after it took a large charge tied to stock awards.

National Penn Bancshares (NPBC) in Boyertown, Pa., will close nine branches as it looks to cut costs.

Alemany, who stepped down as head of RBS Citizens Financial Group in October, will serve as a director and audit committee member at business lender CIT Group.