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Ripple, the latest project of serial disruptor Chris Larsen, aims to be a flexible technology for handling digital payments in any imaginable currency, from bucks to bitcoins to bicycle parts.

At Citigroup, CEO Corbat offers hints of strategic change. U.S. bank gives mobile bill pay a boost. In Washington, a Republican leaves and two Democrats rise.

Chicago will become the first city in the nation to provide the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau with information about local lenders' activities, including potentially fraudulent ones. The CFPB's Richard Cordray hopes other municipalities will follow suit.

New Citigroup chief executive Michael Corbat has moved quickly to pare costs with 11,000 layoffs and a $1 billion charge. The market cheered, but longer term the question remains open whether Citi can shrink its way to prosperity.

Better communication can improve the relationship between banks and their regulators.

Citigroup has managed to train the chief executives of a number of leading banking and card network execs over the years, despite its well-documented troubles.

Small banks face a tough outlook for 2013, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau warns credit reporting firms, Barney Frank's impact on banking.

Bigger banks are farming out broker-dealer services, as regulatory compliance costs rise.