Banks have spent billions of dollars to stop data thieves cold in their tracks, but despite the investments, lenders remain daunted by one of the oldest tricks in fraudsters' playbooks: card skimming.

First Midwest Bancorp Inc. in Itasca, Ill., has completed the sale of $115 million in senior notes and will use the proceeds to exit the Troubled Asset Relief Program.

Two Los Angeles community banks largely owned by the same investment group are planning to merge - the latest in a string of deals between California banks.

HAMILTON, Ohio – Aur Group Financial CU has opened a student-run branch in Hamilton High School called Big Blue CU.

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Brian Moynihan, CEO of Bank of America, belatedly rationalized the Bank's announcement of a $5 per month fee for use of debit cards (which was later rescinded) by saying that the fee was "completely clear and transparent." Silly defense for such a grotesque blunder.

Bridge Bancorp Inc. in Bridgehampton, N.Y., said late Monday that it will raise up to $10 million by selling common stock.

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Sales of previously owned homes in the U.S. unexpectedly rose in October, a sign falling prices may be attracting buyers.

Consumer groups applaud agency's decision to allow more time for comment on Cap One's deal for the credit card portfolio of HSBC.

Unable to withstand the loss of such high-profile clients as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, Steven J. Baum P.C., New York's largest foreclosure law firm, is closing its doors.

Heightened regulation is forcing more bank buyers to overhaul their entire computer platform as regulators zero in on a greater need for compliance.

A new Nevada law has gummed up the works of banks seeking to process foreclosures in the state, causing Bank of America and other major players to all but halt new foreclosure starts.

Retail shoppers who download a Shopkick Inc. mobile application on their smartphones to earn rewards points, or "kicks," may earn extra points by paying for purchases with a Visa-branded card.

JPMorgan Chase is rolling out what it says is the first airline card issued in the U.S. that uses the EMV chip-card standard. The EMV standard is used in many other countries to add security at the point of sale.

Occupy Oakland deposited $20,000 in a Wells Fargo account several days after it protested the evils of big banks outside one of the bank's branches.

Webster Financial Corp. in Waterbury, Conn., received court approval to settle longstanding litigation over a condominium project in Columbus, Ohio, that had previously resulted in an almost $19 million verdict.

In the last three months of 2010, banks, credit unions and other lenders made $12 billion of Small Business Administration-backed loans, the most in any quarter in the SBA's history and more than double the volume in any quarter over the last four years.

Watchdog agency says 125 alleged schemes have been shut down through partnering with online search sites.