Photos of a Halloween office party at a foreclosure law firm, obtained by the Times' Joe Nocera, are nearly as appalling as the Abu Ghraib torture pics.

FAIRVIEW PARK, Ohio – The city council last week approved a pre-construction, seven-year tax abatement for the United Telephone CU for the construction of new administrative offices at the site of the former Cleveland Motel.

FORT WAYNE, Ind. - Fire Police City County FCU has acquired two former Sonic fast-food drive thru restaurants where it will build new branches.

Wells Fargo & Co. became the largest big bank to abandon plans to start charging customers for using their debit cards, in the wake of a widespread backlash against new bank fees.

Bank of America's recent announcement that it plans on charging most of its customers a $5 monthly fee to make debit card purchases has touched off a firestorm of protest across the country. And for good reason. For most Americans, who have already paid dearly for the economic mess touched off by risky bank practices, this latest fee just adds insult to injury.

The Illinois Department of Financial Institutions closed the $37.8 million-asset All American Bank in Des Plaines on Friday.

In some countries people are executed for "fighting against God." But in the U.S. the penalty for fighting against the government is less harsh. The market often exacts the appropriate penalty—for instance, in the case of Durbin.

First Business Financial Services Inc. in Madison, Wis., reported third-quarter earnings of $2.2 million, more than double its profit from a year ago, thanks to strong revenue and margin growth.

First Financial Holdings, of Charleston, S.C., defied the odds by completing its sale of $200 million of problem loans in a dicey economy. Better yet, it booked a $20 million gain.

It's not just banks that are raising prices after changes to the rates that merchants pay to accept debit cards — on Thursday, Coinstar's Redbox DVD rental service said debit fees are driving its prices up by 20 cents a day. Other kiosk-based businesses may have to follow its example.

After three straight years of losses, Citizens Republic Bancorp Inc. in Flint, Mich., reported its second-straight profitable quarter for the three months that ended Sept. 30, thanks largely to improved asset quality and a double-digit increase in commercial and industrial loans.

NCR's acquisition and pension costs contributed to a decrease in third-quarter profits. But the chief executive of the ATM and kiosk maker expects two recent purchases, combined with continued demand worldwide, to generate strong long-term growth.

Green Dot Corp. is licking its lips over banks' new debit card fees, but the prepaid card company still doesn't know quite how large its eventual meal will be.

Central Pacific Financial Corp., which lost more than $364 million in 2009 and 2010, has now made money in three straight quarters as the Honolulu company continues to shed problem assets.

Bankers are pushing the CFPB to provide a safe harbor for its rule to require lenders to verify a borrower's ability to repay a mortgage loan, but consumer groups are warning the agency not to go that far.

ABN Amro has opened a new office in Dallas to do more business with energy, commodities and transportation clients.

Glacier Bancorp Inc.'s shares fell Friday after the company posted a third-quarter loss of $19 million due to a $32.6 million goodwill impairment charge.

Aided by a recent acquisition and its investment in new branches, WSFS Financial Corp. in Wilmington, Del., reported a profit of $6.8 million, or 70 cents per share, in the third quarter, handily beating consensus analysts' estimates.

Acquisition and pension costs decreased NCR’s third-quarter net income by 82%, to $15 million from $85 million a year earlier.

National Penn Bancshares Inc. said Friday that third quarter earnings more than doubled from a year earlier, to $24.8 million, after the company recorded no loan-loss provision.