PayThink

The Federal Reserve is encouraging the industry to explore faster payments, and that is all well and good. But effectively directing it to do so is beyond its authority and would be a mistake.

A more efficient, customer-friendly process for small-dollar commercial loan requests is a matter of competitive necessity for most community banks.

The finance and technology industries should take some of the energy they've poured into mobile payments and put it toward making small-dollar loans more affordable.

To stay ahead of the curve, business leaders must take advantage of every resource at their disposal, and many are looking outside the walls of their organization for new ways to spark the flame of innovation for the next big idea.

Could getting people to save more money be as easy as changing around the office furniture? Based on Emily Garbinsky's research, the answer is yes.

There's nothing wrong with big banks gaining market share because they offer the products and services that customers want. But there's a problem when big banks can beat off their smaller rivals with a club fashioned by legislators and regulators.

Bitcoin's premise is that an open-source computer protocol could support a new global currency, without reliance on the centralized power of banks and governments. But trusting a computer protocol, without human governance, doesn't make sense. As it stands, bitcoin's governance has a long ways to go before institutions would rely on this innovative but flawed currency as a store of value.

Selling offshore requires proper planning, careful selection of service providers, and a thorough understanding of each new market. But each international market represents a chance to add customers and increase revenue.

A recap of the informed opinions (and the discussions they generated) on BankThink this week, including the Fed's proper role in speeding up the payment system; the perennial TBTF debate; and the privacy implications of anti-laundering regulations.

Instead of going through the front "technology" door at financial institutions, where CUs have stronger information security programs in place, they're taking the side door — through retail chains and third-party vendors.