PayThink

The atmosphere in D.C. is hyper-partisan, a presidential election is looming and the economy is barely limping along. We need someone who has credibility with both political parties, experience working in a crisis situation, and the ability to get things done. That person is Sheila Bair. Why? Let's count the ways.

The size of JPMorgan's derivatives book reflects the preferences of counterparties and its own risk management policies. It has nothing with deposit insurance or being too big to fail.

It's hard to imagine that new systemic capital requirements for large banks will not raise the expectations for community banks.

Despite a 4 to 1 vote by the Federal Reserve Board on its final interchange rule, one thing all the governors could agree on was this: Don't blame us, Congress made us to do it.

The cap on debit interchange may be final, but the political fight isn't over. Make sure cardholders (voters!) understand and are repeatedly reminded they are paying for Congress's price controls.

Loan Value Group LLC's Responsible Homeowner Reward program is gaining some fans on the Internet.

Wells Fargo & Co. and Bank of America Corp. have agreed to hand off some of the foreclosed properties they own in Cuyahoga County, Ohio.

After several setbacks and delays, the Uniform Collateral Data Portal is up and running.

A new study from the University of Virginia Darden School of Business and its Tayloe Murphy Center shows that by better serving underbanked consumers, banks and credit unions can effectively raise property values.

Taylor West saw that the Martian-sounding word "interchange" went over the heads of small business owners who could be rallied to a cause. If only bankers grasped the power of language so well.