The Latest

The International Standards Organization's approval of a new merchant category code for gun and ammunition sales paves the way for credit card networks to begin flagging suspicious weapons sales to law enforcement agencies.

The average rate on variable-rate cards rose above 18% this week, the highest level since 1996, according to data from Bankrate.com. The industry has been enjoying large profits, which has caught the attention of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

South End Capital, a division of Stearns Bank in Minnesota, is touting a nationwide Small Business Administration small-dollar loan product that can provide funding within days, perhaps hours. It's one of several recent small-dollar SBA lending initiatives now being offered by banks.

Bank of America says August was its best month ever for Small Business Administration lending and that it's optimistic a new program supporting women and minority commercial real estate borrowers could boost production even more.

The European Central Bank is intensifying discussions with bank executives over their readiness for a potential surge in company defaults and a drying up of energy market liquidity amid a worsening standoff over Russian gas supplies.

Elizabeth's death and the face of U.K. money, MoneyGram reaches out and more in banking news this week.

Shortcomings in security testing and monitoring of clients could also trip up payment industry players who need to meet new requirements by 2025.

In an exclusive interview, the moderate Virginia Democrat and co-chair of the Community Development Financial Institution Caucus touched on the future of community development, cybersecurity and nonbank regulation. 

The average turnover rate has risen to 23% this year from about 16% in 2021, according to a Crowe Global survey of more than 400 banks. Raises and more generous benefits aren't enough to keep workers, the firm warns.

The regulators issued a joint statement Friday morning reaffirming their commitment to the international regulatory framework, but it remains to be seen if they will do so by the Basel Committee's January deadline.