Law and regulation

The Treasury Department on Tuesday capped off a nearly yearlong inquiry into the burgeoning marketplace lending industry with a policy paper that recommends increased transparency and customer protections while also highlighting the sector's potential for expanding credit access.

It is imperative for regulators and lawmakers to approach the online small business loan market with care and an understanding of how these lenders expand access to credit.

State officials in California have asked top online lending firms a series of probing questions regarding their compliance with laws and regulations dealing with referral fees, bank partnerships, fair lending and other sensitive issues.

Hillary Clinton's campaign went on the offensive Monday against presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump's financial policy positions, arguing he would put the system at risk if elected president.

The Consumer Mortgage Coalition is arguing that the bill has serious flaws by allowing private insurers to undercut pricing on federal flood insurance policies by offering high deductibles and exclusions to homeowners with mortgages guaranteed by the government-sponsored enterprises.

Fed up with the hassles of applying for a multitude of state licenses and relying on bank partners, fintech firms are increasingly interested in applying for a national bank charter — and federal regulators are considering ways to accommodate them.

The Federal Reserve deserves praise for a proposal that would strengthen financial stability by eliminating the rights of counterparties to tear up derivatives contracts in a failure.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.’s request for input on mobile financial services allows banks to promote how their mobile app helps the underserved, which is a plus when seeking merger approval.

Every year, millions of students borrow federal loans to cover college expenses. For many, this money is crucial for more than just tuition. It helps these students stay in school by paying for food, rent, transportation and other living costs. But lately, this money has also become the lifeblood for predatory card vendors that gobble up funds with unnecessary, exploitative and hidden fees.

Pennsylvania state regulators on Friday closed the $103.3 million-asset First CornerStone Bank in King of Prussia, the third institution to fail this year.