Finance

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. said banks earned stronger profits and expanded lending in the first quarter of 2026, but at the same time margins shrank and unrealized losses have been increasing.

Tokenization is being adopted from within the system, not alongside it. It's improving how markets operate by making settlements faster, increasing their mobility, boosting transparency and expanding access.

Lenders pulled back on commercial real estate loans in 2023, as high interest rates put pressure on property values. They're now returning to the sector, and the renewed competition is prompting a pricing war.

The business banking fintech, which recently received conditional approval for a de novo bank charter, now has a $5.2 billion valuation.

A capital rule overhaul could make bank charters attractive to independent mortgage banks, reshaping who controls home lending in America.

The Mortgage Bankers Association now predicts a Federal Reserve rate hike to arrive in 2027, as housing price growth also slows over the next two years.

The neobank put its multi-use card in the hands of even more consumers in the first quarter, reaching 5 million users. That has resulted in increased membership fees and average revenue per consumer compared with non-card-wielding customers.

Parker Group unexpectedly ceased operating last week, then filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy a few days later as sponsor banks and customers were left scrambling.

Banks' deposit costs fell as the Fed made borrowing cheaper. But signs of increased competition are already emerging, and analysts see a tougher road ahead.

Affirm CEO Max Levchin said that the company did not have any plans for AI-spurred layoffs despite the fact that it was using the technology more for software engineering.

The payments company posted strong adjusted earnings following a dramatic downsizing, which management attributed to the influence of artificial intelligence.

Federal Reserve Gov. Lisa Cook said Friday that she believes tokenization could improve efficiency across the financial system, including faster settlement times and more effective recordkeeping. But those advantages will take place within traditional finance rather than supplanting it, she said.

The Treasury Department held a high-stakes huddle with state insurance officials to discuss risks associated with the rapid growth of private credit in the economy and whether those investments could pose systemic vulnerabilities.

Freddie Mac was more aggressive than its counterpart for much of the past year but March activity establishes that there's a different trend at play in 2026.

Life insurers' borrowings from the Federal Home Loan banks has increased in recent years, raising concerns about opaque, private credit investments and how it intersects with the Federal Home Loan banks' housing mission.

The neobank reported a 25% year-over-year increase in revenue for the quarter ended March 31, with active users jumping 19% to 10.2 million. The company also raised its full-year 2026 guidance and authorized a $200 million share repurchase program.

A rule change requiring trial modifications before other loss-mitigation options is creating workflow and liquidity challenges, especially for smaller servicers without deep resources.

Evaluating private equity performance is notoriously difficult due to lack of transparency. Asking these 3 questions makes it easier for financial advisors.

A GAO report suggests that blanket rules on spousal consent for 401(k) withdrawals could solve "financial infidelity problems — and exacerbate them.

The proposal is part of what SEC Chairman Paul Atkins calls his "Make IPOs Great Again" agenda.