Robert Braswell, Georgia's banking commissioner, has learned a lot after seeing 74 banks fail in his state since 2008. He remains cautious about 2012 as his team emphasizes more risk control and corporate governance at the banks that remain.

So-called direct banks have become a favored avenue out of the shadow financial system, and into the federal safety net, for household names like General Electric, American Express and Discover.

With its deal for RBC Bank nearing completion, PNC takes a big step toward goal of reducing overhead by $150 million by early 2013.

A troubled Chicago-area community bank that just received a large capital infusion from its owners is now negotiating to restructure its loan with Cole Taylor Bank as it aims to rebuild its capital reserves.

Regions Financial Corp. is in advanced discussions to sell its Morgan Keegan & Co. brokerage unit to Raymond James Financial Inc. or Stifel Financial Corp. for between $900 million and $1 billion, according to people familiar with the situation.

Banks today find themselves in a strategic box as seemingly impenetrable as one of their vaults.

Former TARP special inspector Neil Barofsky blasted the Obama administration for undermining the CFPB with the recess appointment of Richard Cordray.

PayPal Inc. is testing its point-of-sale software in five Home Depot stores, as part of the online payments company's campaign to cut out traditional networks Visa Inc. and MasterCard Inc.

Peggy Twohig, the head of nonbank supervision for the CFPB, says the nonbank supervision team is working to assess risk in the market and identify which companies will be subject to exams.

Susquehanna Bancshares Inc. in Lititz, Pa., is scouting for a new president to run its Baltimore-area operations following the promotion of its current market president to a larger post within the company, the Baltimore Business Journal reported Friday.

PHILADELPHIA — NCUA this afternoon took People for People Community Development CU under conservatorship while it tries to nurse the troubled CDCU back to health.

Decisions to sell by some troubled banks prompted a spurt of deals last month, but M&A in 2011 was still the slowest in years. The economy and low valuations will quell any carryover effect.

With its Jan. 5 unveiling of an at-the-table digital payment terminal called the Rail, Viableware joined other technology companies that for the past couple of years have been trying to eliminate the standard restaurant bill-payment methods.

Heritage Bank Inc. in Erlanger, Ky., has agreed to buy Farmers National Bank in Walton, Ky., in what would be the first acquisition in Heritage’s 21-year history.

First Place Financial in Warren, Ohio, hasn't reported any financial results since June 30, 2010. The company is in the midst of restating its results from 2008 through 2010 after a regulator ordered it to increase its loan-loss allowance.

Edwin Hale sold a million shares in the Baltimore company a week after leaving for a meager 2 cents each.

As Global Payments Inc. reported quarterly earnings, the processor announced a deal to purchase CyberSource's U.S. merchant-acquiring portfolio from Visa Inc.

The president visited the offices of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on Friday, shaking hands with employees and praising their efforts to stand up the bureau.

New mobile payment player plans a white-label person-to-person offering for community banks.

Shares for United Community Banks Inc. tumbled Friday after the Blairsville, Ga., company said it would record an additional $166.9 million in a deferred tax asset valuation allowance.