PayThink

Nothing lasts forever as evidenced by the short term marriage of Hollywood stars. Differences in attitudes, status and in some cases just irreconcilable differences often cause breakups following many years of being together. One of fraying relationship is the 100 year plus association between the 6,000 plus smaller community banks and the nation's largest banks. This long standing relationship between big and small is on the rocks as the two groups have drawn apart, rarely working together or supporting one another anymore.

First Premier Bank has for decades offered credit cards with higher rates and fees than almost any other bank. For instance, if you borrowed $250 on one of their cards and held that balance for a year, you'd pay roughly 75% of that amount, $187.50, in finance charges and fees—assuming no late payment or other charges.

A classic psychological theory, Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, sheds light on consumers' prioritizing credit card bills over mortgage payments.

After several years of bank merger activity trending down, there are signs that the activity level may revive. As this subject may not have been a front burner topic for bankers in recent years, it is useful to consider how changes in the last few years have altered certain strategic priorities for considering mergers.

The future of institutionalized, imprudent mortgage lending to people who could not otherwise afford the loans was foretold in 1999.

The average checking account costs banks about $350 annually, American Banker reported this month. But whether banks should use that estimate in determining individual customer profitability remains up for debate.

Does an ATM-locator app need to have sex appeal? At first, the design of the new PNC Finder app for the iPhone seems like it might be overkill. But its main feature — an augmented-reality display — is winning over customers.

Banks use phone calls to alert customers of potential fraud — so the fraudsters have responded by tying up their victims' phone lines.

The state Attorneys General need to get a deal done soon, or they — and by extension American homeowners and those who have lost their homes — lose.

Yet another video game company has been targeted by hackers. Square Enix, the company behind the popular Final Fantasy games, said Monday that it would restore its "Square Enix Members" website by yearend. The company took the site offline after discovering that a server had been hacked.