Law and regulation

Consumers deserve disclosure and the protections enjoyed by payroll card users, but it is critical that regulations do not put providers out of business.

The ultimate approval of the CIT-OneWest merger by regulators represents a giant step backwards for the Community Reinvestment Act.

WASHINGTON – Democratic Senators sent a letter Monday to federal financial regulators pressing them to "remain vigilant" while grading big Wall Street banks' resolution plans.

For the first time, the Fed this year is requiring banks subject to stress tests to show how they would cope with the possibility of rates dipping into negative territory. Analysts say they will be keeping close watch on custody banks, asset-sensitive regionals and banks with little overseas exposure.

WASHINGTON — Banks in states with legal marijuana businesses may warm up to them as customers if an amendment to a Senate appropriations bill becomes law.

Financial incentives leading firms to strengthen risk governance internally is better than regulators mandating risk management standards.

Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari fired back Monday at those who argue "too big to fail" has been adequately addressed by Dodd-Frank and other reforms, contending that the new structure is overly complex and goes against real-world market conditions.

Real regulatory relief for community banks and stricter oversight of the biggest financial firms are steps that can increase investor interest in new banks.

On the one hand, Sen. Elizabeth Warren's potential elevation to vice president could give significant influence if Hillary Clinton wins the White House. But it would also remove a significant voice for reform from a key spot on the Senate Banking Committee.

U.S. prosecutors have abandoned their case against Angelo Mozilo, a leader in selling the risky subprime mortgages that fueled the financial crisis, after a two-year quest to bring a civil suit against him.

WASHINGTON — The Financial Stability Oversight Council fired another salvo late Thursday in an ongoing legal battle over its decision to designate MetLife as a systemically important financial institution.

American Banker readers share their views on the most pressing banking topics of the week. Comments are excerpted from reader response sections of AmericanBanker.com articles and our social media platforms.

Richard Cordray, the director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, is the target of a new TV ad campaign that alleges he is courting potential funders for a run as governor of Ohio by enacting a plan that would benefit trial lawyers. The campaign appears to be the work of Lincoln Strategy Group, a political strategy firm in Phoenix with ties to Republicans.

Study of financial services offers grim outlook for gender parity, as Patti Husic and Katia Bouazza talk about where change really begins; Maria Vullo vows to forge her own identity as New York's banking watchdog (sans boots); and male CEOs talk about how they maintain work-life balance. Plus, the significance of women wearing pants ( … if not boots).

The answer may be no, according to federal regulators. Their new guidelines on mobile security include other surprises, too, such as specific requirements tied to geolocation, security tests and cross-site scripting.

The Securities and Exchange Commission is considering whether to require state and local governments to disclose bank loans and private placements, according to people familiar with the matter, reflecting bondholders' concerns about the fast-growing segment of municipal finance.

The prospect of banks and credit unions meeting small-dollar loan demand is at risk under the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's restrictive proposal.

New York senators approved Vullo Wednesday as the superintendent of the New York State Department of Financial Services, a year after the exit of the last permanent superintendent.

More than a third of likely voters backing Democrat Hillary Clinton in the latest Bloomberg Politics national poll say she should pick Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, a darling of the party's liberal wing, as her running mate.

House Republicans' plan to subject all federal regulators to the Congressional appropriations process is alarming industry observers, who argue it could hurt both banks and consumers.