Recent increases in bank stock values and the investment bank's success last year make William Hickey "guardedly optimistic," he says.

Mercantile Bank Corp. in Grand Rapids, Mich., has now made money in four straight quarters and its auditors seem convinced that it will remain profitable for the foreseeable future.

Citigroup's traditional banking businesses improved but could not offset a fourth-quarter revenue slump in investment banking, which Chief Executive Vikram Pandit has relied on to help revive the bank.

BURTON, Mich. – Five more credit unions have agreed to settle pending civil suits alleging they violated the Electronic Funds Transfer Act’s fee disclosure provisions, but at least one of the settlements is raising questions about the more than three dozen suits filed against credit unions and banks by a Michigan retiree and her boyfriend.

The key is to make sure that the homeowner is giving up something of value in return for relief of some portion of the mortgage obligation.

Daymond John, the founder of the FUBU clothing brand and a star of the ABC reality series "Shark Tank," offered bankers and payments executives some advice on picking up girls - er, customers.

Mariner Real Estate Management, a Kansas real estate investment and management firm, has acquired a 25% stake in a loan portfolio totaling about $101 million from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.

Riverview Bancorp in Vancouver, Wash., is projecting a loss of up to $5.6 million in the quarter that ended Dec. 30 after determining that five previously performing real estate loans are now considered to be impaired.

M&T Bank Corp.'s fourth-quarter earnings fell 28% as the regional bank reported higher expenses related to its May acquisition of Wilmington Trust, though revenue and credit quality continued to improve.

Wells Fargo & Co.'s fourth-quarter earnings rose 20% as the banking giant again saw its bottom line benefit as it set aside less money to cover potential loan losses.

Citigroup Inc.'s fourth-quarter profit fell 11% from a year earlier as choppy capital markets overshadowed the bank's continued recovery from the financial crisis.

The World Economic Forum just released its yearly report. It's a run-up to the gathering of the economic tribe at Davos later this month and lists global concerns that should be placed high on one's "worry list." Last year it was natural disasters; this year, it's income inequality. Big surprise? No. Props to Occupy Wall Street for helping put this on the Davos radar screen.

Ingenico has begun integrating PayPal's payment system with its point of sale terminals.

Good customers are good customers right up until they’re not. This is the fundamental paradox of credit risk analysis. The most profitable customers are often the ones that are closest to being unprofitable.

Two more congressmen have been identified as receiving loans through a Countrywide Financial Corp. program that has prompted a House investigation into whether the fallen mortgage giant approved loans on favorable terms to win political favor.

Considering the variety of proposals floated recently to restrict money market mutual funds, it seems people at some government agencies really want to put MMFs out of business.

Wintrust Financial Corp. in Lake Forest, Ill., has agreed to buy the trust operations of Suburban Bank & Trust Co. in Elmhurst, Ill.

Despite questions over his legal authority, the new director of the consumer bureau holds crucial voting power on safety and soundness rules as a member of the FDIC board of directors.

The digital currency Bitcoin was conceived as a rebellion against the financial establishment. But it may also present business opportunities for banks that can get comfortable with the risks.

A nonbank lenders' group has declared it will not pose a legal challenge over contentious question of whether the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has jurisdiction over its members. What's behind the decision?