PayThink

Cards preloaded with unemployment insurance, child support, food stamps and other government benefits can be viewed as potential bank accounts, waiting to be opened by people with the fewest quality opportunities to connect to the financial mainstream.

Criminal indictments of bank employees indicate a failure in the institution's governance, risk and compliance policies. Boards must take the time to improve their risk management systems.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development is starting the process of issuing its own qualified mortgage rule after the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued its QM rule, which could be disruptive to the Federal Housing Administration single-family program.

The best way to meet the needs of consumers and communities is to once again have the private sector play the lead role in the housing market, led by responsible local lenders.

Political junkies in Washington last week were riveted by all the machinations surrounding President Obama's attempts to get his nominations through Congress. There were conspiracy theories and allegations. Talk of payback and retribution. Rumors and dark horse candidates. And all of that took place within the 703,000 square-feet building between 7th and 9th streets in the District.

Members are turning to their credit unions in growing numbers for mortgages. In fact, the mortgage business at credit unions soared in 2012. With this growth comes another level in regulatory compliance.

John A. Vardallas, CEO of TheAmericanBoomeR Group, gives thirteen critical initiatives credit unions should implement in 2013.

Characteristics of prepaid cards and checking accounts have converged. This will continue until they are simply different names for the same thing. Manage them together, and provide with each all the relevant features for which customers will profitably pay.

Federal agencies have the authority and ability to raise minimum capital in a direct and meaningful way, outside of the Basel III process.

Bankers must concentrate on achieving greater efficiencies, stop focusing on short-term goals and strike the right balance between unacceptably poor compliance practices and unattainable perfection.