Federal Housing Administration endorsements of condominium loans surged to 5,000 units in August, a 20% spike form the month prior, according to new figures released by the agency.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency said Tuesday that The Cogsville Group LLC has purchased 94 Fannie Mae properties in Chicago as part of a REO pilot initiative.

Bank deals priced at or below tangible book value grew steadily in the first three quarters of 2012, and more are said to be coming as struggling banks start to turn the corner and attract buyers.

Don't focus solely on cost savings. Instead, articulate that you're willing to look at new ideas and projects to help improve margins. This will inspire managers to tap into a fresh wave of thinking.

Banks with at least $10 billion of assets saw their share of deposits increase to 74.4% at midyear from 72.4% a year earlier, the FDIC said Tuesday in its annual Summary of Deposits. Also, the number of U.S. branches and thrifts shrunk.

Matt Williams, incoming chairman of the American Bankers Association, says banks can rebound by drawing on lessons from past crises, updating business models and hiring a new generation of bankers.

Overall, 81% of U.S. investors say they have some form of savings they can draw from if they lose their jobs, according to a Wells Fargo-Gallup Investor and Retirement Optimism Index survey released Monday.

Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan defended efforts by the Obama administration to help the housing market recover, arguing it faced significant hurdles over the past four years.

BETHEL, Conn. -- Bank security provider BranchServ said this morning it has acquired CheckView Banking Security Solutions, a division of Checkpoint Systems that provides electronic security solutions for credit unions and banks.

David Zalman of Prosperity Bancshares has struck five deals in a little over a year. And he say he sees more opportunities than ever.

Park Sterling Corporation (PSTB) in Charlotte, N.C., said Monday it has completed its purchase of Citizens South Banking Corp. in Gastonia, N.C., for $83 million, the same day Capital Bank Financial of Coral Gables, Fla., announced the completion of its acquisition of Southern Community Financial in Winston-Salem, N.C., for $47 million.

Banks are upgrading their top executives' office space thanks to the record-low rate environment, the need for more room spurred by their rapid growth and the chance to grab the naming rights on high-profile buildings.Related Article: Suite Deals: Slow Economy Aids Banks' Office Space Projects

MetLife (MET) has another three months to tell regulators about its capital plans while it tries to sells its online bank to General Electric (GE).

The New York attorney general sued JPMorgan Chase (JPM) on Monday, charging that the Bear Stearns brokerage it bought committed fraud in the sale of hundreds of billions of dollars in mortgage-backed securities on the eve of the housing crisis.

Returns on equity. Loans. Deposits. Those are the things that make a seller attractive — not trading multiples and capital, says Prosperity Bancshares CEO David Zalman, who has struck five deals in Texas in slightly more than a year.

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Although American Express received lighter fines than the two previous credit card players targeted by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, many believe the CFPB's third enforcement action is its biggest statement yet.

Bank of America, as part of the national robo-signing settlement, is offering to wipe out 150,000 severely delinquent seconds liens for select customers.

Summit Bank & Trust in Broomfield, Colo., has hired R. John Rhoades as its president and chief executive.