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Funding costs at large institutions with big proportions of time deposits have been closing in on funding costs at peers, and maturing certificates of deposit are set to continue to buffer net interest margins.

Banks have long argued that processing debit card transactions by starting with the largest dollar balances and working their way to the smallest benefited customers. Here's an alternate explanation of what might have motivated them: "Multiple Millions $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$."

The U.S. average credit card charge-off rate declined in August, resuming the general downward trend of the past two years following a slight uptick in July, according to a new Moody's Investors Service report issued Sept. 23.

Many financial institutions have eliminated their free checking accounts, and the fees they are charging rose this year, according to new research from Bankrate.com.

National Bancshares Corp. in Orrville, Ohio, will promote an insider to replace David Vernon, who plans to retire as president and chief executive at the end of the year.

UBS AG remains committed to its U.S. brokerage business, Chairman Kaspar Villiger and Acting Chief Executive Sergio Ermotti told staff, according to an internal memo seen by Dow Jones Newswires on Monday.

Ambitious Opus Bank announced Monday that it has signed lease agreements to open five new branches in California and Washington.

The Commerce Bank of Oregon, a subsidiary of Zions Bancorp., has promoted Chief Financial Officer Jodi Delahunt Hubbell to president and chief executive officer, effective Jan. 1.

While bankers complain about what's already on the books, regulators are moving on to write new "macro-prudential" rules designed to curb systemic risk.

The Treasury Department's Office of Inspector General blames the OTS in nearly of all its recent failed thrift reviews. The OCC, which inherited OTS-regulated thrifts in July, said it will make sure mistakes cited in the reports are not repeated.

Should credit bureaus wipe all blemishes from a consumer's file after three years? Will the Durbin debit rule drive consumers to use cash and checks, or credit cards? Don't expect firm answers from these academics, just intriguing questions.

Premier Bank & Trust in North Canton, Ohio, said that that Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has lifted a consent order after the bank recapitalized and addressed concerns over certain assets.

Two private-equity groups have agreed to invest a combined $100 million in a union-owned, New York bank that intends to use the proceeds to beef up its lending.

About 78% of consumers surveyed are comfortable with their banks using security cameras to improve customer service. Union Savings Bank in Danbury, Conn. is testing this concept.

American Chartered Bancorp in Schaumburg, Ill., has raised $50 million from a group of private equity firms that includes Patriot Financial Partners, Endicott Management Co. and Siena Capital Partners.

Firms controlled by mortgage bond pioneer Lewis Ranieri and billionaire investor Wilbur Ross are partnering to buy Deutsche Bank Berkshire Mortgage, a major lender to investors in U.S. apartment buildings, the companies said Monday.

A top Canadian financial regulatory official Monday warned the country's banks and other financial institutions against lowering interest rates further to spur additional borrowing by consumers.

The prepaid card marketer Green Dot said Monday that it had joined the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council to participate in the standards-setting process.

The Atlanta Development Authority is shuttering a new homebuyer assistance program because the program's servicer, Bank of America, has decided to exit the correspondent lending business.