PayThink

Richard Cordray, director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, tried to calm community bankers' fears on Wednesday by telling them not to be concerned over the new mortgage rules issued by the agency. The CFPB's new mortgage rules will take effect next year.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren argued that Republicans opposing Richard Cordray's nomination to lead the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is only meant to undercut the agency's work.

Political and public outcry against "too big fail" has certainly grown in the last few months. Do large financial institutions need to fear a breakup?

Megabanks may be able to fight off regulatory forces demanding their corporate downsizing, but a voluntary breakup may be the only way to sway public opinion their way.

The House Budget Committee released Rep. Paul Ryan's fiscal 2014 budget plan on Tuesday. The plan renews its attacks on the 2010 Dodd-Frank reform law, including its provisions for winding down large, failing banks.

In a March 12 letter, Sen. Bob Corker, a senior member of the Senate Banking Committee, raised concerns about whether the Financial Stability Oversight Council would wind down a healthy institution due to concerns regarding whether the bank is "too big to fail."

Sens. Mark Warner, D-Va., and Bob Corker, R-Tenn., are asking Attorney General Eric Holder to clarify his admission last week about whether some financial institutions are too big to prosecute.

House Financial Services Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling is questioning whether the Federal Reserve Board can transfer funds to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau if the is agency without an appointed director.

Empowering the unbanked to save and invest in themselves and others, through technology as simple as text- or Tweet-to-pay, will create opportunities to get people out of poverty.

Risk management issues, fair lending infractions, money laundering violations and civil money penalties will remain on regulators’ radars in 2013.