Bitcoin, a decentralized virtual currency, has been declared illegal in Thailand. Members of the Foreign Exchange Administration and Policy Department made the determination at a meeting on July 29 in the Southeastern Asian country, according to a Bitcoin exchange operator in attendance.

MainSource Financial Group (MSFG) in Greensburg, Ind., has been cleared to redeem the last of the preferred stock it had issued through the Troubled Asset Relief Program.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's crackdown on Castle & Cooke Mortgage is the first in what could be a string of enforcement actions against mortgage originators for failing to follow new loan officer compensation rules.

Several major trends continued in the second quarter: strengthening credit quality, continued debt reduction and a focus on cutting costs. Revenue and loan growth remain a challenge, but signs are emerging that consumers and businesses are ready to spend again, which could bode well for bank earnings in the second half of the year and into 2014. Other potential profit drivers: a surge in wealth management income and, for some banks, a more level playing field.

Pacific Commerce Bank in Los Angeles has satisfied enforcement orders imposed by state regulators, but it still has more work to do.

Trustmark in Jackson, Miss., has bought two branches from SOUTHBank in Huntsville, Ala.

WSFS Financial Corp. in Wilmington, Del., has agreed to buy the mortgage banking company Array Financial Group in Haverford, Pa.

India's consumers have everything they need to move away from cash—they're just waiting for the right catalyst, according to Visa's Sam Shawki.

Social media proves more effective than phone calls or branch visits to spur buying of financial services products, a Gallup survey says. Some bankers remain skeptical.

ING Direct Canada CEO takes part in a "Daily Show" dig at U.S. banks.

Banks add expertise, services for trade finance boom.

This new generation of workers, clients and shareholders, LGBT or not, is going to demand equality.

Banks with $2 billion to $10 billion of assets ranked by three-year average return on equity. Our chart offers an in-depth look at the performance of mid-tiers nationwide, including key metrics like net income, efficiency ratio and tangible equity.

The hangover from real-estate owned properties on bank balance sheets was expected to last quite a while. But the problem has all but dissipated, thanks to heavy interest in the secondary market for REO and a fast rise in home prices.

Wells Fargo has temporarily stopped selling defaulted consumer debts to collections agencies. Its move follows a more drastic pullback by JPMorgan Chase and a regulatory crackdown on the collections industry.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority granted preliminary approval for Park Community FCU to receive as much as $160,000 in tax incentives for building a new headquarters, where it plans to consolidate offices of 75 to 80 employees now scattered in three Louisville buildings.

HomeStreet in Seattle plans to buy two small Washington lenders for a total of $37.3 million.

Hudson Valley Holding (HVB) in Yonkers, N.Y., has hired a former chief credit officer at Merrill Lynch Bank USA.

First BanCorp (FBP) in San Juan, P,R., reported a large quarterly loss as it purged its nonperforming assets.

Tri-County Financial Corp. in Waldorf, Md., will change its name to Community Financial Corp.