Banco Popular de Puerto Rico

Attendees at the Bitcoin2013 conference were excited about the technology's potential to disrupt the payments business – specifically micropayments, international remittances and charitable giving.

The death of branches appears to be greatly exaggerated, but they are changing. American Banker editors discuss how two banks that are leading the way, Wells Fargo and Umpqua, are downsizing and rejiggering their bricks and mortar presence.

American Banker editors discuss the prospects for reducing the roles of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in housing finance and the obstacles a pullback would face.

Momentum is building on both sides of the aisle for significant reform of mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. American Banker staffers discuss what's behind the Senate's rare show of bipartisanship.

Congress is pushing ahead with legislation aimed at requiring financial institutions to share information about cyber threats. Banks are pushing back, however, over fears that they'll get caught between new disclosure requirements and demands that they protect customers' privacy.

The Libor scandal ensnared a number of big banks and has heightened concerns that other indices are vulnerable to similar manipulation. That has led regulators to caution against such activity and indicates financial institutions would do well to ensure their risk management and compliance staffs are on high alert.

Tech startups are gunning to compete with banks by providing financial services to low-income and other underserved customers. Many of the offerings provide me-too services with limited appeal, however, rather than attractive innovations.

It's been a buoyant year for stocks but not for bank deals. Regulatory uncertainty and a failure of buyers and sellers to come to terms on price continue to stymie activity. American Banker staffers discuss whether the market is getting closer to taking off and why some big investors have been selling.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau appears close to clamping down on fees on account overdrafts and payday loans. That's left some observers fearful low-income consumers will end up losing access to financial services many count on to make ends meet.

The industry is up in arms over a proposal that would require banks to disclose in call reports specific sources of fee revenue. In question is whether the mandate would improve oversight of safety and soundness or instead is aimed at furthering the policy agenda of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and consumer advocates.