Law and regulation

Unless we return the Farm Credit System to its original mission, taxpayers could be on the hook for a bailout in the near future and farmers’ access to credit could be reduced, writes Rep. Marlin Stutzman.

Amex has rules that bar merchants from steering their customers to a particular card – perhaps by offering a discount if you use Visa – and the government alleges that these rules violate antitrust law. What’s this case all about? American Banker's editors discuss.

The CFPB should prohibit financial institutions from reordering transactions to maximize overdraft fees, require that fees be proportional to a bank’s costs to provide the loan and ban providers of prepaid cards from offering overdraft loans altogether, according to Susan Weinstock of The Pew Charitable Trusts.

Wall Street's biggest trade group has proposed a government-industry cyber war council to stave off terrorist attacks that could trigger financial panic by temporarily wiping out account balances, according to an internal document.

American Express charges the highest average fees of any card network and Amex’s rules prevent retailers from taking steps to reduce those costs, the Department of Justice argued in court on July 7.

A recent GAO report called for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to be involved in interagency discussions about virtual currencies, but others say the bureau's jurisdiction is murky, technology may move too fast for consumer rulemaking and too much regulation too early could kill innovation.

A recent GAO report called for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to be involved in interagency discussions about virtual currencies, but others say the bureau's jurisdiction is murky, technology may move too fast for consumer rulemaking and too much regulation too early could kill innovation.

New federal requirements for private mortgage insurers aim to standardize coverage across the market. That's left some companies looking for ways to distinguish their products as they vie for lenders' business.

A disparate-impact ruling against a small Texas bank was supposed to lower the cost of small-dollar loans for Hispanic borrowers, but it has instead had the opposite effect, writes Attorney Peter Weinstock.

Regulatory requirements that bar homeowners with imperfect credit scores from receiving a mortgage are hurting minorities and the economy as a whole.

SunTrust Banks (STI) has agreed to pay as much as $320 million to settle an investigation into its administration of Home Affordable Modification Program loans.

SunTrust agreed to pay as much as $320 million to resolve federal allegations it mishandled applicants for mortgage modifications.

Last year's push by some lawmakers to rein in the big banks may have lost steam, but an imminent GAO report and committee leadership changes could give the issue new life.

American Express Co. drives a hard bargain with businesses that want to attract its affluent cardholders: treat the card like any other form of payment despite higher processing costs if you want those customers.

American International Group, Prudential Financial and General Electric Capital Corp. have completed their first round of "living wills" required for systemically important firms.

WASHINGTON — The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's watchdog is estimating a total price tag of nearly $216 million for the bureau's renovation of its headquarters.

Greenlight Financial, a unit of Nationstar, will pay $48,000 to settle claim it denied or delayed mortgage loans to applicants on maternity leave.

Bank regulators on Wednesday released updated metrics used to evaluate compliance with interstate banking laws.

Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen on Wednesday argued against using monetary policy to mitigate potential financial stability risks, saying that recent regulatory reforms were a better alternative.

Stress tests have a spotty record as a tool for identifying weaknesses and problem institutions.