PayThink

Apple Pay is a watershed moment that will do more to stimulate mobile commerce than the sum of all previous efforts. But it also has an impact on branding that should make it part of a broader mobile menu for banks and retailers.

Some banks try to justify tight underwriting standards by arguing that borrowers with lower credit scores and those who can only afford lower down payments are more likely to default. But the research supporting this argument is based on outdated analysis of high-cost, risky loans.

Apple Pay launched this week with more than 500 supporting financial institutions, with the largest issuers in the group accounting for more than 80% of the debit and credit transaction volume in the USA.

The Community Reinvestment Act is often used as a tool to address a broad range of social problems. But the law’s expanded purpose may distract banks from their primary mission of direct lending to low- and moderate-income communities.

The SEC's mammoth whistleblower bounty offers a reminder that financial institutions should emphasize a culture of compliance and transparency, lest frustrated employees head to the government to find an audience that will listen.

As the payments industry becomes increasingly commoditized, it faces new challenges. Among the biggest hurdles is how to keep customers loyal.

Many have predicted that banks will be unwilling to accept the additional risks associated with non-QM lending. But a recent survey suggests that some lenders are dipping their toes into the waters.

The federal government's unlawful sweep of Fannie and Freddie profits has sent a clear message to private capital: There's only downside to being the government's partner in a time of crisis.

Apple Pay is a watershed moment that will do more to stimulate mobile commerce than the sum of all previous efforts. But it also has an impact on branding that should make it part of a broader mobile menu for banks and retailers.

As the CFPB focuses on the screening processes that banks use to vet checking account applications, regulators should try to maintain a balance between safety and soundness concerns and consumer protection.