Bank holding companies earned a record $3.4 billion from the sale of annuities last year, up 9% from a year earlier, according to a report released Tuesday by Michael White Associates of Radnor, Pa.

The nationwide trade group for community banks is asking the Department of Justice to suspend its push to keep questionable merchants out of the mainstream payments system, arguing it is impacting community banks' competitiveness.

Banks everywhere are evaluating their odds of survival, which takes capital. Mutuals are at a disadvantage in that regard but are looking to change that through new legislation.

With JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo set to issue the initial round of first-quarter earnings reports Friday, big bank CEOs are bracing to answer questions about executive departures, capital shortfalls, seemingly unending legal risks and — oh, yeah — how they are going to make money.

BitGo, a San Francisco-based a digital currency payments processor, has launched a new suite of services for financial institutions that engage in Bitcoin-based commercial transactions.

Cost concerns, regulations and restrictions on working with vendors are a few of the reasons bankers are having a tough time embracing new technology, according to American Banker readers.

Gyft, a provider of virtual gift cards, plans to launch Gyft Cloud, a marketplace for merchants to sell their own digital gift cards with Clover Station, a tablet-based point of sale system developed by First Data Corp.

BloomNation, a marketplace for connecting customers with local florists, finds Bitcoin users spend on average 50% more per transaction than credit card users.

A large U.S.-based public debt buyer announced Monday it raised its credit facility to prepare for one of the largest acquisitions in accounts receivable management industry history.

Kaulkin Ginsberg announces that its spring semester research fellows program, in conjunction with the University of Maryland, College Park’s Department of Economics undergraduate studies program, is underway.

Debt buyer Portfolio Recovery Associates UK expects future growth will create up to 400 jobs in the next three years, adding to its current 300 employees at the company's office in Kilmarnock, Scotland.

Consumers cut back on their credit card use for the second straight month in February but increased borrowing on student loans and auto loans by the largest amount in a year.

Santander Bank in Boston has appointed Jerry Plush as chief financial officer of its U.S. holding company Santander Holdings USA, and Maria Tedesco as managing director of retail banking for Santander Bank.

F.N.B. Corp. (FNB) in Hermitage, Pa., has agreed to buy OBA Financial Services (OBAF) in Germantown, Md.

A former Arkansas bank executive has been accused of committing fraud in order to conceal losses on a $1.5 million loan.

MainSource Financial (MSFG) in Greensburg, Ind., has agreed to buy MBT Bancorp in West Harrison, Ind.

Citigroup agreed to pay $1.13 billion to settle claims from mortgage-bond investors as it seeks to curb liabilities tied to the financial crisis. It took a $100 million first-quarter charge.

Specialty retailer American Eagle Outfitters (AEO) has renewed its retail credit card agreement with General Electric Capital Retail Bank.

Wintrust Financial (WTFC) in Rosemont, Ill., has agreed to buy the Pewaukee, Wis., branch of The National Bank.

The Federal Reserve's retail payments office announced Monday that it "fully supports" the most recent push within the banking industry to speed up electronic payments.