PayThink

Editorials on President Obama’s proposed bank tax have been remarkably harmonious, with the majority of media outlets saying that while it may be politically motivated, the plan isn’t necessarily bad economic policy. Even the conservative opinion page of The Wall Street Journal, though critical of the tax, complained mainly about Obama's choice of target.

"The Daily Show" last week took a look at the biggest banks' sensitive side.

Shari Storm still recalls the day at Verity Credit Union when she was going through some "drama" with a colleague, when she noticed something about the expression on the other person's face. It was very familiar. Indeed, it was the same expression her young daughter used-every time she was lying.

American Express, Visa, Mastercard and Discover waived the processing fees for donations made to certain charities contributing to relief efforts in Haiti, at least temporarily.

Bank of America, JP Morgan Chase, Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs and Jefferies have each committed at least $1 million to earthquake relief. Other financial institutions, including Wells Fargo and TD, have also announced donations.

Talk about an about-face. The American Bankers Association, which fought tooth and nail against new restrictions on credit card fees and interest rates, issued a press release this week saying the changes “herald a new era” for consumers.

A Wall Street Journal item on interchange fees struck a nerve with small business owners. In the Jan. 5 Op-Ed, Todd J. Zywicki, a law professor at George Mason University, argued when merchant fees are capped, consumers end up footing the bill. He said that’s exactly what happened when Australian regulators imposed price controls on interchange fees in 2003: issuers increased annual fees on cards and reduced the generosity of their reward programs.

Commentators continue to debate whether Senate Banking Committee Chairman Christopher Dodd’s decision to retire makes it more or less likely that legislation overhauling financial regulation will be enacted.

Our reporting on the Huffington Post's campaign to get consumers to shift deposits to community banks -- and the consumer psyche it taps into -- continues to draw comment from readers

Steve Delfin found himself on his way out just about the same time that much of what he had preached has been finding its way in.