Law and regulation

Housing Secretary Shaun Donovan and four state attorneys general vowed to hold banks to the terms of the settlement while saying more institutions were likely to shortly join their ranks.

New nonbank companies entering the payments industry should be subject to the same regulatory oversight and transparency requirements as their financial institution peers, according to a report released by the American Bankers Association.

A prominent group of policymakers from across the political spectrum has unveiled a detailed proposal to reform the mortgage finance system that includes many common elements found in pending Senate legislation.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency has hired a force-placed insurance industry lobbyist to simultaneously advise the government on the same issues. Is the move is indicative of a federal housing regulatory regime that's been coopted by the regulated?

Regulators are looking more closely at the way banks choose and manage their vendors. One insider tip: clue the regulators in to new projects ahead of time.

During a House Financial Services subcommittee hearing, Republicans accused the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau of overspending, saying too much money is spent on top officials' salaries, travel and planned office renovations.

Contradictory regulations, such as the CFPB's QM standards and HUD's new fair lending rules, inhibit banks’ ability to devote resources to their businesses.

Would the proposed trans-Atlantic trade agreement really be a prize, or would it more closely resemble a poisoned chalice for the U.S.?

In the S&L crisis, regulators manipulated capital to prop up ailing thrifts. Today, regulators embrace risk-based requirements assuming they can correctly predict the future.

The big five servicers technically passed the first test of their compliance with the $25 billion national mortgage settlement, but four of them failed to meet at least one requirement and the settlement's monitor received nearly 60,000 complaints.

Many Bitcoin startups face the expensive and daunting task of obtaining multiple state money transmitter licenses. But these businesses could drum up enough support to create a more streamlined and affordable licensing process.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is spending too much on top officials' salaries, travel and a planned office renovation, Republicans said during a House Financial Services subcommittee hearing on Tuesday.

Rep. Maxine Waters, the top Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee, is asking for an investigation into claims that Bank of America purposefully delayed borrowers from entering the Home Affordable Modification Program.

NetSpend stockholders voted to approve the prepaid card marketer's acquisition by Total System Services, clearing the way for the payments processor to complete the deal in mid-2013.

Lawmakers and industry officials continue to issue warnings about the impact of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's ability-to-pay rule, despite recent efforts by the agency to amend certain provisions to assuage some industry concerns.

The OCC's third risk report cited put cybersecurity as the second biggest worry for bankers, right after struggles to maintain revenue.

In the first case of a state taking on bank consultants, New York regulators have banned Deloitte Financial Advisory Services from financial consulting for one year.

M&T had delayed plans to buy Hudson City Bancorp because of the Federal Reserve's compliance concerns, and an order made public Tuesday details what the Buffalo, N.Y., company has to fix.

Even great bankers cannot succeed when forced to compete in a market with an influx of new banks and a shortage of skilled bankers, wise directors, and experienced regulators.

Capital One Financial (COF), the lender that agreed to pay $210 million to settle U.S. charges of deceptive marketing of credit-card products, hired the nation's top immigration official to head compliance operations.