WASHINGTON — Credit unions appear to be facing an uphill battle in their ongoing effort to pass legislation that would double their cap on business lending.

A bipartisan bill in the House seeks to repeal the Durbin Amendment. But for now, at least, its prospects in the Senate appear dim.

Putting a commission in charge of the bureau would at best produce partisan gridlock, and risks handing the young agency over to financial institutions.

Consumers are understandably angry that their debit cards and checking accounts will be subject to new fees. No one likes price increases, especially when they appear suddenly and without apparent justification. However, the current backlash against the nation's large banks is misdirected, and the rationale for these new fees is generally misunderstood.

When banks attempt to mark up the transaction involving a dollar, the fee for the service is stark. It stands out in a manner that makes it both obvious and occasionally controversial.

PayPal is putting itself at nearly every possible point of a consumer's banking relationship – from account-opening to payments and even reward-redemption – through a series of new partnerships.

An ongoing tug-of-war between compensation and regulation has spread to retirement packages at community banks after a Michigan company opted to withhold about half of a payout to a retiring executive until an outstanding enforcement action is lifted.

The $47 million price tag could rise or fall depending on fluctuations in the Illinois community bank's tangible book value. It's another sign of how parties to bank deals are trying to protect themselves in uncertain economic times.

Sabal Financial Group L.P. of Newport Beach, Calif., has acquired a $153 million portfolio of loans located in some of the hardest hit regions of the United States.

The president of a small Atlanta-based bank testified to Congress on Wednesday that the derivatives provisions in the Dodd-Frank Act could hinder the bank's ability to manage risk and serve its clients.

New York's largest foreclosure law firm agreed last week to pay $2 million as part of a settlement over questionable foreclosure practices with the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York.

While Apple co-founder Steve Jobs had little direct influence in the mortgage technology industry, his passing has prompted many mortgage tech executives to reflect on how Jobs influenced and inspired their own contributions to technology.

Century Bancorp Inc. in Medford, Mass., said Tuesday that its third-quarter earnings rose about 40% compared to a year earlier, to almost $4.6 million, due to loan growth and a special gain.

The Obama Administration expects to roll out a plan to lower barriers to refinancing in "the next couple of weeks," HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan told mortgage bankers at their annual convention in Chicago.

Huntington Bancshares Inc. will start providing financing to car dealers in Wisconsin and Minnesota later this month.

The Government National Mortgage Association is making it easier for MBS issuers to pledge their servicing rights to obtain financing from warehouse lenders.

United Community Banks Inc. in Blairsville, Ga., said it will record a special loan-loss provision of $25 million for the third quarter due to concerns over collateral associated with its largest loan relationship.

Park National Corp. in Newark, Ohio, said Tuesday that it had found a material weakness in its internal control over financial reporting, tied to its use of a third-party contractor.

Park Bancorp Inc. in Chicago said Tuesday that it had hired an investment bank to help it explore its strategic options, including a possible sale.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is open for business, of course, but it still promises to be awhile before the collection industry gets a clear idea of how the regulatory agency intends to oversee it.