Law and regulation

U.S. regulators are close to a final decision to label MetLife Inc. systemically important, two people with knowledge of the matter said, setting up a potential legal battle with the country's largest life insurer.

The watchdog agencies for two bank regulators issued reports this week that found a lack of minorities and women in senior-level positions.

Lawmakers are nearing an agreement on extending a federal backstop that covers a portion of corporations' losses from acts of terrorism, according to two congressional aides.

Regulators don't want to use the name Basel IV, but the sheer number of changes they are contemplating over the next few years add up to an entirely new capital regime.

Almost a year after the Volcker Rule was finalized, banks still have questions about which regulators are taking the lead on the rule and how the supervisory and enforcement process will work.

At a roundtable with federal and state regulators in Los Angeles this week, bankers offered some fresh ideas about possible regulatory relief. Here is a sampling.

The House passed an enhanced bankruptcy bill for large banks earlier this week, teeing up what's likely to be a broader — and more contentious — debate over the issue next year.

Zomato hasn't been able to add payment capabilities to its restaurant discovery app in its home base of India, but the company has found a more welcoming audience in Dubai, where it plans a pilot next month.

After nearly two years, the Justice Department so far has accused just one bank of facilitating consumer fraud. And the aftermath of that case suggests that prosecutors' strategy is not as effective as they hoped it would be.

WASHINGTON — The House passed a bill Tuesday to study the effects of a Federal Reserve Board rule restricting the number of transactions customers can make with their savings accounts each month.

The Federal Reserve Board announced Tuesday it will hold a meeting Dec. 9 to discuss a proposed capital surcharge for the country’s largest banks.

The comptroller of the currency said regulators will act before the end of a mandated review of potentially outdated rules "when a solid case has been made for reform."

Excessive risk-taking amid low interest rates and the migration of financial transactions away from the heavily egulated banking sector have combined to make the system even riskier in 2014 than a year ago, according to a report released Tuesday by the Office of Financial Research.

Nonbank mortgage servicers are already in the crosshairs of regulators. Now they will face even more scrutiny from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Swift's initial move into faster domestic payments in Australia sets the groundwork for expansion into other markets, including the U.S.

WASHINGTON — Federal regulators on Tuesday released the latest guidebook for examiners to use in assessing banks' anti-money-laundering programs.

A new study suggests that most consumers only waive their right to sue companies in court and participate in class actions because they don't understand the contracts they're signing.

The House approved a bill late Monday that would set up a framework for large failing banks to go through the bankruptcy process.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren recently told New York Federal Reserve President William Dudley to man up on bank enforcement, warning him that if he won't, "we need to get someone who will."

Mandatory retirement ages and term limits can backfire by forcing out board members with badly needed skills. It's better for boards to take the necessary, though socially uncomfortable, step of convincing underperforming directors to leave.