The former special inspector general for the Troubled Asset Relief Program hammered the Obama Administration and Treasury Department Tuesday night at a panel discussion on the foreclosure crisis, saying fears of a political backlash led to the administration's tepid response to the housing crisis.

Just when you thought all-stock deals were kaput, three recent deals proved otherwise. But they won't work for everybody in today's volatile markets.

Zions has selected Fiserv to support multi-channel digital payments for retail and business customers.

The backlog of real estate-owned homes held by banks and the government is "staggering," Fitch Inc. said this week, and the disposal of those distressed properties in the next two years will depend largely on the strategies taken by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

RedRidge Finance Group said Wednesday that its RFG Fund I LLC acquired a majority interest in Excel Finance Holding Co., a consumer and auto loan provider.

Two independent advisory firms are recommending that shareholders at Brooklyn Federal Bancorp Inc. in New York vote in favor of the thrift company's plan to merge with Investors Bancorp Inc. of Short Hills, N.J.

As part of its ongoing effort to shed non-core assets, Citigroup Inc. is selling off its remaining stake in life insurer Primerica Inc.

Auto-loan delinquencies will remain at record lows next year, spurring more competition among lenders looking to expand their business, credit bureau TransUnion predicts.

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GROTON, Conn. -- Charter Oak FCU is opening its 12th branch at the Electric Boat campus, in New London, the building site for Navy submarines.

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Consumers CU is planning to open two branches in 2012, one in Kalamazoo and one in Mattawan.

Mortgage industry members are applauding Congressional efforts to raise the guarantee fees that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac charge lenders, saying the fee increases could help bring private investors back into the mortgage market.

WASHINGTON – The FDIC said today it approved the acquisition of Griffith (Indiana) Savings Bank by United FCU of St. Joseph, Mich., the first bank to be acquired by a credit union.

Despite recent sweet talk about building better relationships and regaining trust, few banks are taking meaningful steps to do either. It will take more than sympathetic ads, friendlier tellers or bonus credit card miles. This may require some time in therapy.

Shareholders for Herald National Bank of New York have until Dec. 21 to decide how they want to get paid in the proposed merger with BankUnited Inc. of Miami Lakes, Fla.

Activist investor John W. Palmer appears to have won his bid for a seat on the board of the $1.2 billion-asset HF Financial Corp.

U.S. Bancorp in Minneapolis has added two high-profile business leaders to its board of directors.

Plans to reduce paper use 20% by 2015.

The FDIC has served as the receiver on 90 banks so far this year, well below analysts' expectations. Still, observers say another 200 banks are at risk of failure over the next two years.

Agency had originally sought much more in case stemming from 2008 failure, but officials say deal still provides creditor relief.