Increasingly burdensome requirements, such as small business panels and cost-benefit analysis, inhibit writing of new regulations. But substituting enforcement actions that unevenly apply vague or unwritten rules betrays the regulatory mandate.

ivermark Community Credit Union says it has no intention of going branchless, but it has closed or is scheduled to shutter three branches in 2012 as it ramps up its electronic banking efforts.

The inclusion of secondary capital as part of credit unions' net worth would give them yet another unfair regulatory advantage over banks.

CLEARWATER, Fla. – Achieva CU, formerly known as Pinellas County Teachers CU, is opening its first branch in nearby Hillsborough County.

TAMPA, Fla. – Suncoast Schools FCU, a credit union giant that teetered during the financial crisis, is putting its stamp on a financial rebound with plans to open a new branch this week, one of two for the coming months.

The FDIC issued four consent orders against banks in July, after doling out three a month earlier. The agency used to hand out 10 or more a month.

WASHINGTON — State regulators closed First Commercial Bank in Bloomington, Minn., late Friday in the industry's 41st failure this year.

Ralph Babb, the chief executive of Comerica in Dallas, tells a research analyst the company may consider in-market and out-of-market deals — its first since taking over Sterling Bancshares last year.

Regulators lifted an enforcement action against Anchor Bank in Lacey, Wash., and replaced it with a softer one.

Investors and analysts cheered SunTrust's decision to boost reserves for Fannie and Freddie repurchases, prompting speculation that other lenders could follow suit.

Mortgage Resolution Partners, the firm pushing municipalities to seize loans for borrowers owing more than their homes' values, said it would expand its proposed program to include delinquent and defaulted debt.

William E. Griffin, a founder and former chairman of Hudson Valley Holding (HVB), has died, the company said Friday. Griffin was 79 and had suffered from a long illness.

Under pressure from a regulator solely focused on protecting the consumers' financial interest, many banks have started abandoning suspect practices. Let’s keep it that way.

Colony Financial (CLNY) in Los Angeles seeks to raise as much as $150.9 million through a common stock offering and use the funds to repay a revolving credit facility.

An educational computer game from Visa and the National Football League allows players to move up and down the field and score points by correctly answering questions that test their financial literacy.

Bank of the James Financial Group (BOTJ) in Lynchburg, Va., has raised $10 million through a private placement of unregistered debt.

Unpredictable card terms and conditions make it hard for small-business owners to budget. If they can't allocate funds with confidence, they're less likely to hire employees, hurting the economy.

Charles Collum, a former chairman of Virginia's oldest bank, will run a loan office in the north of the state for John Marshall Bank.

BankAtlantic's former parent is officially no longer regulated as a financial holding company. The Fed released BFC Financial and affiliate BBX Capital from being registered as a thrift holding company.

M&T's bid for Hudson City has the deal world abuzz with talk of who'll be next. The Fed, meanwhile, is trying to calm angry community bankers as the entire industry mulls the implications of the November election.