Policy & Regulation

Among other problems, Goldman never mentions that one big reason it survived and thrived is that the bailout of AIG enabled it to repay Goldman and other counterparties at par.

"Digital currencies are exciting because of the innovation," but "being a financial institution comes with certain responsibilities," says Fincen Director Jennifer Shasky Calvery in a Q&A.

The Libor scandal ensnared a number of big banks and has heightened concerns that other indices are vulnerable to similar manipulation. That has led regulators to caution against such activity and indicates financial institutions would do well to ensure their risk management and compliance staffs are on high alert.

The Federal Reserve Board has taken action against two banks and terminated orders with four others, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp has freed Synovus Financial from an order.

The Federal Reserve Board has terminated an enforcement action with CIT Group.

The Treasury Department and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development jointly agreed to allow the Making Home Affordable Program to continue to be available to American families for an additional two years through Dec. 31, 2015.

Southwest Bancorp in Stillwater, Okla., and Bank of Kentucky in Crestview Hills have completed exits from the Troubled Asset Relief Program.

Public officials talk as if facilitating anonymous financial transactions is in itself somehow nefarious. But there are legitimate reasons to keep online purchases and other activity private.

The list of policy heavyweights calling for a breakup of the big banks has continued to swell since our last slideshow on the topic. Here are some of the latest endorsing the concept:

In an interview this week, Jennifer Shasky Calvery, the director of Fincen, said the government was not trying to squash the development of digital currencies, but made it clear they must follow proper anti-money laundering procedures like other financial institutions.