A BusinessWeek cover sparked controversy recently because many saw it as racist. But it also stirred concerns because it reinforced a persistent myth about the financial crisis: that it was caused by predatory borrowers, not lenders.

The best way to meet the needs of consumers and communities is to once again have the private sector play the lead role in the housing market, led by responsible local lenders.

The Justice Department is investigating a recently acquired unit of Ocwen Financial (OCN), the company announced Friday.

Regions Financial (RF) has promoted a veteran executive to lead its private wealth management unit.

Delinquencies on loans that back commercial mortgage securities fell for the second consecutive month in February, to their lowest level in a year, according to a report published Monday.

Characteristics of prepaid cards and checking accounts have converged. This will continue until they are simply different names for the same thing. Manage them together, and provide with each all the relevant features for which customers will profitably pay.

VISIONBank in Fargo, N.D., has converted a former restaurant into an eye-catching branch where customers are invited to sit by the fire, play with the dog, grab a soda from the fridge and make themselves at home.

Fifth Third Bancorp (FITB) is expanding its capacity to take on debt and has wrapped up a $100 million stock buyback.

Warren Buffett, the Oracle of Omaha, whose Berkshire Hathaway conglomerate owns the biggest stake in both companies, says he's likely to buy more of their shares in the future.

Zions Bancorp's chief credit officer will step down this spring. The Salt Lake City company said Thursday that Ken Peterson will retire in April at the end of his three-year contract.

Citigroup Inc. (C), the world’s biggest credit-card lender, is facing rising costs from the misselling of so-called add-on card products in the U.K. and U.S.

SCBT's deal for First Financial in South Carolina shows how wealth, mortgage and other fee businesses attract buyers that want to bulk up their noninterest revenue.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. has freed the Bank of Granite in Granite Falls, N.C., from an enforcement action.

With its new depositor preference proposal, the FDIC decided to skip over the current problem and fix one that doesn't exist — yet. Its solution places more burden on banks, but may save the agency from eventually insuring foreign deposits.

Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., said recent profits at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac should go toward helping build a new mortgage finance system.

The Columbus, Ga., company has righted itself, is pursuing growth opportunities and looks forward to the day when it is strong enough to buy other banks again, CEO Kessel Stelling says.

A number of community banks took a hit when Silverton Bank failed in 2009, and that experience is making them cautious about sharing credits today.

NewDominion Bank in Charlotte, N.C., believes it is close to raising enough capital to shed a consent order.