Regulation

Illinois state regulators closed the $66.3 million-asset AztecAmerica Bank in Berwyn on Friday.

State regulators quizzed bankers and payments executives about the benefits and risks associated with improvements to the payments system, including same-day transactions. The industry officials assured them the new system would be secure — though they were short on details.

A recent oil and gas boom in Texas that has captivated banks' attention is also drawing the eye of regulators as they become concerned how far institutions will go to win loans and hire specialists within the energy industry.

A recap of the informed opinions (and the discussions they generated) on BankThink this week.

The normally even-keeled moderate Sen. Mark Warner warned fellow Democrats voting against a housing finance reform that when Fannie and Freddie need another taxpayer bailout, it will be their fault.

Democratic lawmakers on the Senate Banking Committee sounded off against bipartisan legislation to overhaul the mortgage finance system on Thursday, opposition that likely all but ruins the bill's chances of making it to the chamber floor this year.

Under pressure from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. to increase its capital levels, Doral Financial (DRL) is selling its health care lending division to Triumph Bancorp in Dallas.

Any bill that does not return with provisions reinstating affordable housing goals and lowering down payment requirements is still a failure, writes the head of the National Urban League.

The Senate Banking Committee passed major legislation to overhaul the housing finance system on Thursday.

Cal-Bay International is developing a specialized prepaid and loyalty card for licensed marijuana dispensaries.