We must enhance our system of supervisory checks and balances to ensure that more eyes, not fewer, are focused on the activities of our financial institutions.

Ficalora's outlook on the Westbury company's prospects is bullish, to say the least. He said the next three years could be the most promising ever for doing what NYCB does best — buying other banks and using their deposits to fund its main business of lending money to the owners of rent-controlled apartments in New York.

As Congress moves to enact a bill this week that would kill government subsidies for private student lenders, companies that relied on Uncle Sam must dramatically reposition themselves to stay competitive, observers said Monday.

Navy Federal Credit Union is offering no-down-payment mortgages — which have become difficult to obtain these days — to its members nationwide, citing "opportunities in the current market."

Citizens South Banking Corp. of Gastonia, N.C., has raised $15 million to help finance its takeover of the failed Bank of Hiawassee.

Last week's reversal of a tax court decision means Subchapter S bank owners will continue paying taxes as they have for years.

With regulators pushing for larger provisions for loan losses at its two most troubled banks, Capitol Bancorp Ltd. has revised its 2009 results.

The number of banks missing the deadline for making dividend payments under the Troubled Asset Relief Program continued to rise in February.

Consumers filed lawsuits naming an estimated 545 different collection agencies and creditors during the first half of March, up from 471 in the last two weeks of February, according to data from U.S. District Court complaint dockets.

Small merchants have found that using a mobile payments system from Bling Nation is a good good way to boost revenue — and local banks have seen the benefit in increased deposits.

Glacier Bancorp Inc. of Kalispell, Mont., says it may use proceeds from a common stock offering to acquire failed banks, a strategy that management had previously left off the table.

RICHLAND, Wash. – HAPO Community CU plans an $8 million renovation of its headquarters and main branch here.

YUMA, Ariz. – AEA FCU, which reported a whopping $25.9 million loss for 2009, said it plans to shutter its downtown branch and close the main offices for business on Saturdays in an effort to reduce expenses.

Regulators closed seven banks Friday, including the largest bank subsidiary of bankrupt Advanta Corp. Resolving the banks, which held a combined $3.3 billion in assets, will cost the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. $1.3 billion. The year's failure tally now stands at 37, or more than double the number at this point last year.

Regulators closed seven banks Friday, including the largest bank subsidiary of bankrupt Advanta Corp. Resolving the banks, which held a combined $3.3 billion in assets, will cost the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. $1.3 billion. The year's failure tally now stands at 37, or more than double the number at this point last year.

WASHINGTON — Acknowledging that regulatory guidance to limit banks' concentration in commercial real estate has failed, Comptroller of the Currency John Dugan said Friday that the banking agencies will issue new, tougher standards.

Regulators closed three banks Friday, including the largest bank subsidiary of bankrupt Advanta Corp., to bring the year's failure toll to 33.

Regulators closed three banks Friday, including the largest bank subsidiary of bankrupt Advanta Corp., to bring the year's failure toll to 33.

Encore Bancshares in Houston is paying to get out of Florida. The $1.6 billion-asset company announced an agreement last week to sell its six Florida branches, with $231 million in deposits and $86.2 million in loans, in two deals that will cost the company $1 million.