Industry watchers expecting foreclosure trends to follow a predictable path are destined for surprises, as the recent figures from RealtyTrac demonstrate. March marked a 4-year low in new foreclosures, with actions increasing in judicial states, but surprisingly declining in non-judicial ones. In the aftermath of the AG settlement with the major servicers, this result seems counterintuitive to say the least. However looks may be deceiving on closer examination.

WASHINGTON — Banking regulators in some states have expanded the use of a mortgage licensing system to include non-banks, the Conference of State Bank Supervisors said Monday.

Industry observers are concerned that banks could get caught flat-footed as regulators ramp up oversight of Bank Secrecy Act and Anti Money Laundering policies.

Second-step conversions by mutual holding companies have been in a freeze since last summer, but at least one analyst believes that the market is set to thaw.

The American Bar Association argued a CFPB rule to protect privileged bank information is flawed because it presumes the agency has a right to the information in the first place.

Pacific Valley Bank in Salinas, Calif., announced it intends to de-register its thinly traded shares and suspend filing periodic financial reports with the FDIC as a result of the Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act signed into law this month.

Credit-card companies have continued to shine this year as more consumers shift from paper money to plastic and loan performance exceeds expectations. But the ongoing enactment of new regulations and the threat of litigation could overshadow those metrics, particularly for Visa Inc. (V) and MasterCard Inc. (MA), the two largest card networks in the world.

FVNB Corporation in Victoria, Texas, is expanding into the Austin and San Antonio markets with a deal to acquire the $270 million-asset First State Bank in New Braunfels.

Though it caved to First Premier’s lawsuit, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has failed to resolve the uncertainty about the rules for credit card fees.

Citigroup reclassified $840 million of home equity loans as "nonaccruing" in the first quarter, and wrote down $370 million of mortgages as part of the national mortgage settlement's principal-forgiveness requirements.

Banks and credit unions are lobbying fiercely over legislation that would allow the latter to expand further into commercial lending.

Intervest Bancshares (IBCA) in New York said Monday that its first-quarter profit climbed 53% from the same period in 2011 due primarily to lower overhead and improved asset quality.

Chemical Financial (CHFC) reported first-quarter income of $12.4 million, up almost 35% from a year earlier, as the Midland, Mich., company's earnings were boosted by the sale of its merchant processing business.

Bank of America has filed lawsuits against itself in a series of foreclosure-related actions that only a lawyer could love.

M&T Bank's (MTB) first-quarter earnings were little changed amid a year-earlier investment gain as it repositioned its balance sheet ahead of its acquisition of Wilmington Trust.

Citigroup's (C) first-quarter profit remained virtually flat from a year earlier at $2.9 billion as revenue, particularly from equity and debt capital markets operations, improved from the fourth quarter.

Joe Smith could choose a large consulting firm as project team leader only and mandate that this firm pick experts and on-the-ground compliance staff from a wider range of outfits.

CHICAGO – The future of the branch office continues to be a matter of divided debate, as was made clear during a Colloquium here sponsored by the Filene Research Institute.

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Ally Financial on Friday told its mortgage banking clients that it will "significantly" curtail government lending tied to some government agencies, according to a internal memo. The affected agencies are the Federal Housing Administration, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Department of Agriculture.