President Obama assured that 2012 would get off to a rousing start when he made a recess appointment of Richard Cordray as head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Predictably, the appointment generated both praise and outrage.

Serial acquirer Grandpoint Capital Inc. has announced its first acquisition of 2012 as it prepares for the closing of its last announced deal.

Four months after its planned sale to Texas investment group fell through, The Bank Arlington near Dallas has found another buyer.

SunTrust reported higher earnings on more lending, but a big jump in requests to repurchase mortgages and a hit to fee income stole the show.

The agreements with rivals Community Bank System and Financial Institutions Inc. would complete First Niagara's planned divestitures in connection with its blockbuster deal for much of HSBC Bank's retail franchise.

Frivolously adding armor to combat planes makes the aircraft difficult to control and less effective. Weighting down banks with ill-conceived risk mitigation strategies and regulations serves the interests of neither individual banks nor the banking system as a whole.

ORONO, Maine – University CU and town officials signed a formal agreement to redevelop a downtown site that once was home to the historic Katahdin Building.

Auburn National Bancorp in Alabama announced two moves that will largely offset each other during the first quarter.

Capital One Financial Corp.'s fourth-quarter profit fell almost 42% from year earlier to $407 million, as the bank's expenses surged.

Vastly improved credit quality combined with respectable loan growth propelled Associated Banc-Corp to its most profitable quarter since Philip Flynn took over as chief executive two years ago.

Even as releases of allowances for bad credit card loans continue to plump bottom lines, rising delinquency rates in the fall point to the first increase in quarterly chargeoff rates in a year and a half at three of the largest issuers.

American Express Co.'s fourth-quarter earnings rose 12% as cardholder spending kept rising and the company booked higher revenue, though loan-loss provisions increased.

BankUnited Inc. once seemed intent to grow on its own. But now, after a brief flirtation with selling itself, the company's main job will be assuring key constituents that it's simply going to stick around.

Scott Thompson's abrupt departure as PayPal's president leaves PayPal in the hands of a team of competent executives, but raises the question of who among them, if any, will be tapped to fill his role.

With its expenses continuing to run above its long-term expectations, Huntington Bancshares Inc. said Thursday that is planning to close 29 free-standing branches across its six-state network during the first quarter.

A good-news/bad-news story is the best way to describe fourth quarter 2011 results. The numbers also hold clues to where the banking business is heading.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau revealed details Thursday about how it plans to examine payday lenders, while Director Richard Cordray said it will move immediately to stop certain practices.

B of A showed improvement in the fourth quarter, but it is counting on its ability to expand through earnings as well as keep legal and repurchase costs in check. That is a tall order.

Did an anonymous open letter to BankUnited CEO John Kanas, emailed to all of the bank's employees, imploring him not to sell the bank really have an impact on the decision to abandon the sale?

Tiny Square-like card swiping gadget available to those remaining merchants and consumers who still favor the BlackBerry.