PayThink

Tens of millions of consumers diligently pay their rent, utilities and other bills every month yet have no credit history. Supplementing traditional credit scoring with such data will promote equity and upward economic mobility, says the CEO of Experian North America.

Alternative branches were long criticized for generating fewer deposits than traditional ones. But in an increasingly online world, convenient and conspicuous physical presences at places like grocery stores stand out.

The government helped the gas pipeline operator recoup some of the funds it paid to cyberthieves, but that's unlikely to happen often. Banks should shore up password security to minimize risk and be willing to reject hackers' demands in the event of a breach.

The federal government is developing plans to require public companies to notify investors of climate and other environmental, social and governance-related risks. Lenders must take steps to understand the underlying issues and ensure borrowers disclose their own ESG exposures.

Policymakers need to stop attacking credit bureaus and take action against credit repair firms that use dubious tactics to wipe bad debt from consumers' credit reports. Such schemes both impair banks' ability to accurately underwrite loans and further hurt real victims of identity theft.

It is possible for financial firms to value the future of the planet and lift up marginalized communities while still generating strong returns for shareholders. Here's how.

They may look different, but for opening accounts, serving small businesses and satisfying consumers' need for cash, branches remain essential.

Financial firms can minimize the damage by understanding where key threats lie, educating employees and customers about phishing scams, and breaking down silos between compliance, fraud and security teams.

Randal Quarles, the Federal Reserve's vice chair for supervision, says the central bank was wise not to require banks to build capital cushions in the lead-up to the pandemic. But that decision rested on a misleading a narrative and could wind up threatening the economic recovery.

Any bank that engages in auto, mortgage or other retail lending should develop a comprehensive program to identify potential risks of noncompliance with consumer protection rules and take corrective actions before the Biden-era Consumer Financial Protection Bureau comes calling.