Policy & Regulation

Senator-elect Elizabeth Warren successfully beat out GOP incumbent Sen. Scott Brown securing herself a spot on the Senate Banking Committee.

Senator-elect Elizabeth Warren has secured a spot on the Senate Banking Committee and she'll be joined by Sen. Joe Manchin, according to a Democratic Senate aide.

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

A sharp rise in noninterest income — including gains on asset sales — helped banks and thrifts record their best quarterly earnings total in six years, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp said Tuesday.

Banks often choose not to bring questions about products, terms and marketing to regulators, citing fear of retribution from front-line examiners. Creation of the CFPB separates consumer policymaking from examination activities, offering hope for open, clear communication.

House Republicans are preparing to add several members to the Financial Services Committee next year, as well as kicking two current members off the panel.

Curry praised banks' tighter mortgage underwriting standards but cautioned that they are squeezing out potential borrowers, particularly low-income families and minorities

Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, is leaving Congress in February to head the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

With just a few short weeks until Congress adjourns for the year, Washington is experiencing a rush of activity covering everything from a potential extention of the TAG program to the delay of the Volcker and remittance rules. Following were the highlights of last week:

Stewart Larsen, Bank of the West's head of mortgage lending, still frets about pending regulation, but he prefers to stay focused on matters he can control.