Opinions

Rep. Jeb Hensarling, the new chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, continued his criticism of the 2010 Dodd-Frank Act on Tuesday.

Small banks are concerned about the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's enforcement potential over fair lending laws.

"Community bankers are growing increasingly concerned that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau will eliminate one of their bread-and-butter products: balloon loans," writes American Banker's Kate Berry.

Though the agency has reported record loan volume in recent years, many lenders and borrowers remain reluctant to use its programs because they view its application process as too cumbersome and its eligibility requirements as too strict.

Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke said Tuesday U.S. regulators were committed to adopting an international liquidity requirement, but hinted at possible changes to fit the U.S. banking system.

Standard Bancshares in Hickory Hills, Ill., has completed a capital raise from private-equity firms and named two directors.

New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman's office has ordered two Buffalo, N.Y. debt collection agencies to shut down for deceptive practices.

BlackBerry is testing whether the money-transfer business will help the smartphone maker keep users hooked on its instant-messaging service.

First Security Group (FSGI) in Chattanooga, Tenn., is poised to raise $90 million from institutional investors.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency hasn't explained why it stopped Fannie Mae from slashing its hazard insurance costs by hundreds of millions of dollars. The regulator's decision certainly benefits major banks, however, leading critics to cry foul.