Community banks are stepping up their mobile payments offerings — and a growing number say they're doing it more to please customers rather than for the direct profits.

Freddie Mac bought insurance covering a portion of losses on a pool of home loans from Arch Capital's Arch Reinsurance Ltd. unit, expanding risk-sharing efforts by the government-backed company.

M&T Bank Corp. (MTB) said the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Department of Justice are investigating financial reports by Wilmington Trust Corp. before M&T bought the firm.

Banks, along with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, are revisiting mortgage lending policies to address fracking concerns. Some banks will no longer finance homes where an oil rig sits, and Freddie Mac says it can force the entire outstanding balance to be paid if an oil lease is signed.

The mortgage delinquency rate (the rate of borrowers 60 days or more delinquent on their mortgage) dropped 23.3% in the past year, ending Q3 2013 at 4.09%, according to TransUnion.

Banks put the brakes on small-business lending in October as the government shutdown shuttered the Small Business Administration and the Internal Revenue Service.

At some point, the CFPB may start asking if issuers' credit scoring models negatively affect minority credit card applicants more than white applicants.

Bank of America Corp. Chief Executive Officer Brian T. Moynihan said U.S. consumers are in "pretty good shape" and spending more with credit cards.

Great Southern Bancorp (GSBC) in Springfield, Mo., bought a loan portfolio from an unnamed seller.

Choice Financial Holdings in Grafton, N.D., has agreed to buy Great Plains National Bank in Belfield, N.D.

The company lost money in the third quarter as it aggressively looked to build assets. At least one investor urged management to take a break from acquisitions during a quarterly call to discuss results.

Pulaski Financial (PULB) in St. Louis said Monday that it had discovered a fraud scheme by a commercial borrower that wiped out the profit for its latest quarter and nearly a third of its annual profit.

Baylake Corp. (BYLK) in Sturgeon Bay, Wis., has agreed to buy a branch from Community Bank & Trust in Sheboygan, Wis.

Saehan Bancorp (SAEB) shareholders have more time to decide on how they get paid in the buyout by Los Angeles rival Wilshire Bancorp (WIBC).

Banks, whose reputations took tremendous hits in recent years over the treatment of military customers, have unveiled another round of programs to help service members and veterans as the nation celebrates Veterans Day.

MADISON, Wis. — Once again, rumors of the death of branches have been greatly exaggerated, according to a new study.

Capital Bank Financial (CBF) in Coral Gables, Fla., has hired a former Huntington (HBAN) executive for its top technology job.

Jacksonville Bancorp (JAXB) in Florida reported its third consecutive quarterly profit as lowered its expenses and its loan-loss provision.

Berkshire Bancorp (BERK) in New York plans to delist from the Nasdaq and deregister its common stock.

Concern is mounting that Nationstar, Ocwen Financial and Walter Investment are getting so big so quickly that they are becoming too difficult to manage and should consider tapping the brakes on acquisitions.