Law and regulation

Senate Banking Committee Chairman Richard Shelby, R-Ala., is seeking input from the Government Accountability Office and the Congressional Budget Office on the future of policies dealing with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

WASHINGTON — Several Democratic senators are calling for the Government Accountability Office to investigate whether financial technology companies are properly regulated.

The Financial Stability Oversight Council adopted a series of staff recommendations that narrowed its broad inquiry into the asset management industry, but appeared to defer to the Securities and Exchange Commission for further regulatory action.

Minneapolis Federal Reserve Bank President Neel Kashkari on Monday expanded on his views about the state of financial regulation while casting doubt on the "total loss absorbing capacity" concept for bailing in failed banks.

The idea of financial institutions resembling utilities has caught on with some industry observers for reasons other than reducing systemic risk.

The National Association of Realtors is teaming up with a coalition of environmental groups, taxpayer advocates and insurance companies to push Congress on flood insurance reforms.

All the noise over the impact of the Current Expected Loss Model is paralyzing bankers from taking reasonable and practical steps to prepare for the new accounting standard.

Freedom Mortgage of Mount Laurel, N.J., has agreed to pay $113 million to settle government allegations that it failed to comply with Federal Housing Administration requirements for originating and servicing FHA-insured loans.

Senior members of the Obama administration posted a blog under the headline: "A Moral Case for Putting a Stop to Payday Lending Abuses." White House officials are citing support from a diverse array of religious leaders for ending the cycle of debt caused by taking out multiple payday loans.

As regulators begin taking a harder look at marketplace lenders, questions are being raised about how fair-lending rules are being applied and what, if any, obligations those new participants might have to low- and moderate-income borrowers.