Financial regulators acknowledged Thursday that the data they use to determine fair lending violations in certain cases could be improved, but said they would not stop using such information.

An out-of-court settlement in Mount Holly, N.J., means that the court will not weigh in on whether the controversial legal theory can be used in fair-lending cases.

Old Line Bancshares in Bowie, Md., agreed to disclose more information about a recent acquisition when challenged by shareholders, but it refused to pay any money. That rare resistance could embolden other banks to fight such suits harder, experts say.

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has lifted an Oct. 2010 consent order against Santa Clara Valley Bank in Santa Paula, Calif.

Nationstar, Ocwen and Walter Investment picked a tough time to make an aggressive push into mortgage lending, but their efforts could pay off once new mortgage rules kick in.

Social media can be treacherous for any large firm. Just ask JPMorgan Chase, which provoked a frenzy this week after its #AskJPM hashtag was hijacked by angry customers. Big banks arguably face more challenges than other large corporations because, while they must use social media to reach out to customers, they still face substantial reputation damage from the financial crisis. Following are some of the worst experiences banks have had to date.

How can banks charge their customers more without inviting their outrage? By introducing new services to off-set the fees and by communicating clearly with their customers, according to some small banks. American Banker reporters discuss other tips for companies that are trying to raise their prices but keep their customers happy.

A response to John Bowman.

Until the Fed threatens to raise rates soon, commercial borrowers will take their time seeking credit, and the economy will keep plodding along, the U.S. Bancorp CEO Richard Davis says.

Capital One takes a bold idea and runs with it in a new promotional video featuring adventurer Jonathan Watson using its mobile banking app while participating in Atlanta’s Great Bull Run.

Suffolk Bancorp (SUBK) in Riverhead, N.Y., has settled a longstanding lawsuit from investors.

Valley Financial (VYFC) in Roanoke, Va., has exited the Troubled Asset Relief Program with the repurchase of a warrant the company issued to the Treasury Department in 2008.

A branch is no longer just a "full-service thing" but a wide range of service points that include bare-bones express locations and the smartphone in your pocket, Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan said this week.

The West Virginia Supreme Court has overturned a $75,000 verdict against collection firm Green Tree Servicing, ruling that Circuit Court Judge Robert Burnside should have sent the lawsuit to arbitration.

New regulations under consideration by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the United Kingdom will drive up collection costs and hurt collection rates, according to an early finding from a study being released next month by FICO.

Directors at community banks could also face more liability as regulations, including the qualified mortgage rule, are implementing in coming months

Sandy Spring Bancorp (SASR) in Olney, Md., has named Ronda McDowell as chief credit officer of its bank.

U.S. consumers increased their debt in the third quarter by the largest amount since early 2008, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York said Thursday.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. is seeking $6.3 million in damages from three former directors of the failed Progress Bank of Florida in Tampa.

Gyft, a mobile gift card provider, has launched a loyalty system that gives different levels of rewards based on the funding method, favoring alternatives over credit cards.