Law and regulation

The bureau is holding a hearing on payday lending this week in Birmingham, Ala. — the heart of the districts served by two of its biggest critics.

Dozens of small banks in California remain under enforcement actions, leading some industry observers to predict an impending wave of regulator-led consolidation.

If financial-services companies have any reservations about being appointed the front-line enforcers for copyright protections under proposed anti-piracy legislation, now would be their time to strike.

Wikipedia and the White House have weighed in against SOPA. If payments processors and banks don't want to be front-line enforcers of copyrights, now's the time to lobby for changes.

Citigroup's traditional banking businesses improved but could not offset a fourth-quarter revenue slump in investment banking, which Chief Executive Vikram Pandit has relied on to help revive the bank.

The key is to make sure that the homeowner is giving up something of value in return for relief of some portion of the mortgage obligation.

At its first board meeting this year, the FDIC unveiled stress test requirements for large state nonmember banks and revised its plan to require firms to file living wills.

The World Economic Forum just released its yearly report. It's a run-up to the gathering of the economic tribe at Davos later this month and lists global concerns that should be placed high on one's "worry list." Last year it was natural disasters; this year, it's income inequality. Big surprise? No. Props to Occupy Wall Street for helping put this on the Davos radar screen.

The former federal prosecutor says the confusion over the mid-sized brokerage's collapse is further evidence that its larger rivals are themselves simply too big to manage.

Two more congressmen have been identified as receiving loans through a Countrywide Financial Corp. program that has prompted a House investigation into whether the fallen mortgage giant approved loans on favorable terms to win political favor.

Considering the variety of proposals floated recently to restrict money market mutual funds, it seems people at some government agencies really want to put MMFs out of business.

Despite questions over his legal authority, the new director of the consumer bureau holds crucial voting power on safety and soundness rules as a member of the FDIC board of directors.

The digital currency Bitcoin was conceived as a rebellion against the financial establishment. But it may also present business opportunities for banks that can get comfortable with the risks.

The news that President Obama might move his Charlotte convention speech to Bank of America Stadium provoked a deluge of sarcasm from across the ideological spectrum.

Two Republican members of the House Financial Services Committee have averted a collision at the ballot box.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry is a long shot for the Republican presidential nomination, and that may just be a good thing for employees at the Federal Reserve Board.

Federal Reserve Gov. Elizabeth Duke said Friday the central bank will soon take steps to alleviate the regulatory burden on community banks as they sift through thousands of pages of new rules.

A nonbank lenders' group has declared it will not pose a legal challenge over contentious question of whether the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has jurisdiction over its members. What's behind the decision?

The move comes as part of a broader proposed consolidation of government agencies.

A Jan. 10 Supreme Court ruling upheld the controversial practice of including mandatory-arbitration clauses in credit card contracts.