PayThink

Rather than try to make money market funds safer, David Merkel essentially wants everyone to recognize and admit and deal with the reality that they aren’t safe.

In an improving economy, many of the policies and procedures that were imposed on banks in 2008 have become counterproductive, and are hurting rather than helping the industry.

Several billion consumers and 35 million merchants worldwide take the enormous convenience and security of branded payment cards for granted.

Since the news broke about Freddie Mac's use of an arcane set of derivatives called collateralized mortgage obligation inverse floaters, a considerable amount of energy has been spent linking their use to some sinister plot to prevent underwater homeowners from refinancing their mortgages.

Some random thoughts while cleaning out the notebook in this paper-based log, from henceforth to be known as a plog.

With the increase in membership and many members looking for smart ways to save money, a growing number of credit unions are partnering with auto and home insurance providers. Here are five compelling reasons credit unions are enhancing member benefit packages with an auto and home insurance program.

After Brian Moynihan became CEO at the start of 2010, B of A's stock lost more than half its value. Meanwhile, the leading bank stock index, KBW, scarcely went down at all. And B of A was recently selling for about 1/3 of book, a remarkably low valuation. Evidently enormous further losses are expected. Why?

Michael Stockman and Michael Roseman may have had the same title at MF Global, chief risk officer, but their testimony Thursday for the House Oversight Committee highlighted distinct differences in actual roles, responsibilities, and personal perspectives.

To suggest that MMFs exist in a hidden “shadow” world simply distorts reality.

Spurred by the financial crisis and its impact on their constituents, state attorneys general appear to be carving out a new role as de facto bank regulators. This trend, an unexpected fall out of the financial crisis and the passage of Dodd-Frank, may not as yet be fully appreciated. However, it seems increasingly clear that state AGs will be important arbiters of the way banks do business on a going forward basis.