Data Sets

Banks and merchants have been building their defenses against hackers for years, but it hasn't been enough. They were still the targets of several major breaches in 2011, affecting millions of consumers.

The largest banks face massive mortgage problems in 2012, including litigation, falling home prices and regulatory changes that are expected to cost them billions of dollars.

The year in bank M&A fell short of expectations in terms of volume, but it produced plenty of drama, policy fights, antacid moments and a few victories.

Regulators and lawmakers set to have a significant impact on banks next year.

It was a tough year both for bankers and their backers. Here are 10 who had a particularly difficult time as strategic moves backfired, legal woes mounted and unforgiving markets dealt out costly setbacks.

The ten most intriguiging technology companies in the financial services space.

Since 2008, six states have accounted for 61% of the nation's bank failures. Here are the states with the most failed banks over the past four years.

The past year was a mixed bag for banks. Some found success in picking up market share, or in finally putting federal bailouts into rear view. Others encountered fresh challenges, from run-ins with regulators to the realities of a still-fragile economic recovery. Here are 10 bank CEOs worth watching in 2012.

M&T Bank's CEO Robert Wilmers (top left) is American Banker's Banker of the Year for 2011. Other honorees are former Citigroup executive William Rhodes, Lifetime Achievement; Melanie Dressel, Richard Evans and Michael Kubacki, Community Bankers of the Year; and Jane Thompson, Innovator of the Year.

Executives, lawmakers and banking industry players on the year in financial services.

Executives, lawmakers and banking industry players on the year in financial services.

Executives, lawmakers and banking industry players on the year in financial services.

Big banks are issuing prepaid cards for unemployment benefits in 41 states. Here's a breakdown of the many fees — and occasional benefits — for jobless Americans using these cards, according to the National Consumer Law Center.

As diversified as the financial services industry is, no one trade association outright advocates on behalf of large banks. Each organization that shares that role says it offer something unique to the industry's crafting of its message on regulatory policy.

Earnings season was unpleasant for many bankers. Though some reported decent profits and loan growth, executives had to explain glaring weak spots, answer tough questions about deal prospects, defend unpopular fees and make sense of the economy.

On financial policy, the Republican presidential field has been gravitating to the right. Here is a look at where several of the contenders stand on key issues.

Bankers beware. There are a number of industries that are expected to languish even when the U.S. economy starts to recover. As banks try to make loans and spread, these might be good ones to avoid. Economists at IBISWorld note that these industries carry considerable risk and the potential for shrinking revenue.