Industry observers have commended the Walla Walla, Wash., company for righting the ship after it was hammered by exposure to bad construction loans. But now investors are wondering how it will grow in a weak economy.

CEO John Stumpf offered candid views on monetary policy, the housing crisis, capital rules and even consumer protection during a panel discussion late Wednesday.

Heidi Miller, the former president of JPMorgan Chase's international businesses, says that megabanks have to do a better job of defending themselves — and acknowledges that some banks run the risk of becoming too big.

FirstBank Holding in Lakewood, Colo., will close 15 branches in its home state, reflecting an increase in its customers' reliance on electronic banking.

Ambassador, a broker-dealer and deal advisor, announced Thursday that it would acquire the operations of Capital Insight Partners. Jacob Eisen and Tad Gage, the co-founders of Capital Insight, are set to become managing directors of Ambassador.

Capital Bank Financial and National Bank Holdings priced their initial public offerings below the ranges they gave last week. Other banking companies have struggled in the IPO market this year.

Nationstar Mortgage remains the "stalking-horse" bidder for ResCap's residential servicing portfolio, sources said. Ocwen Financial, Berkshire Hathaway and an unnamed hedge fund have also emerged.

First National Bank of the Gulf Coast believed it had all the cards in place to become a serial bank acquirer. But it hit a snag: the bank lacked a holding company to fully put its strengths to use.

Days after restating its 2011 results to show a larger loss, Broadway Financial (BYFC) in Los Angeles announced Wednesday that its first-quarter loss was lower than it first reported.

The nation's third-biggest bank has received the E Pluribus Unum Prizes' Corporate Leadership Award for its backing of Citizenship Maryland, a program that loans money to legal permanent residents who apply for U.S. citizenship.

Bank of America may be preparing to slash about 6% of its work force by the end of this year as part of an ongoing series of streamlining measures.

Oregon Pacific Bancorp in Florence has raised almost $2.4 million through a private placement of common stock to unnamed accredited and institutional investors.

Suffolk Bancorp is looking to grow after a large purge of nonperforming assets under CEO Howard Bluver.

What is good for the big banks is not necessarily good for the economy and the growth of jobs, writes the chairman of Signature Bank in New York.

In an attempt to compensate for higher foreclosure related losses, the Federal Housing Finance Agency is proposing that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac charge higher fees on new loans in five states.

A jump in previously occupied homes and a rise in new construction suggest the housing sector may be headed for recovery.

Jackson Hewitt Technology Services is the latest tax preparer to end its partnership with Republic Bancorp, following the bank's decision to no longer offer refund-anticipation loans.

Andrew Kahr blames Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's affordable housing goals for helping "inflate" the housing bubble. Former GOP appointees at HUD see it differently.

Community Bank of Central Wisconsin had to sell but couldn't find a single buyer — so it got creative and found two.

In a race closely watched by the banking industry, multiple polls conducted since the Democratic National Convention now find Elizabeth Warren leading Sen. Scott Brown. "Warren is looking unbeatable," one analyst says.