Opinions

Wells Fargo is trying a new twist on long-controversial down-payment assistance programs, which give money to prospective borrowers who otherwise could not afford to buy homes.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency are giving banks more time to comment on proposed stress-testing requirements for depository institutions.

Audit committees must follow rules already on the books that charge them with hiring and firing auditors. That includes booting an auditor that allows executives to put banks at risk of failure for their own enrichment.

In its first-ever auction of preferred stock acquired through TARP, Treasury is seeking to sell stakes in Banner Corp. (BANR) of Walla Walla, Wash., First Financial Holdings (FFCH) of Charleston, S.C.; MainSource Financial (MSFG) of Greensburg, Ind.; Seacoast Banking (SBCF) of Stuart, Fla.; Wilshire Bancorp (WIBC) of Los Angeles; and WSFS Financial (WSFS) of Wilmington, Del.

Behind closed doors they live in a constant state of fear, ducking calls from bank and servicing representatives, opening certified letters with shaking hands.

The Federal Reserve went down a dangerous road when it expanded its balance sheet with more than just Treasury securities in a bid to provide stimulus to the economy, Philadelphia Fed President Charles Plosser said.

Banks with less than $1 billion in capital are essentially locked out of the private equity market, due to existing laws such as the Bank Holding Company Act. A group of investment bankers, lawyers, and even some regulators want to make changes.

State regulators closed two banks on Friday, bringing the year's tally to 15. The two failures, in Georgia and Illinois, are expected to cost the Deposit Insurance Fund $ 95.6 million.

I am sad to see Cam Fine of the Independent Community Bankers of America resort personal attacks on me and my firm in response to my comment, "TAG Actually Gives Big Banks the Advantage." I can imagine that my comment stung a bit, but Cam and all of the people at ICBA know that I am one of the most vocal advocates for community banks in the U.S. Indeed, our firm is focusing a great deal of time and effort to help small banks raise capital and compete with the too-big-to-fail banks.

The consumer bureau's student-loan ombudsman told bankers this week that problems facing the sector could have long-lasting effects on the economy for years to come.