Regulation

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac should be increasing the availability of loans to the most underserved segment of the market: the small rental properties across the country that are naturally affordable.

Remittances from the West are a lifeline for many people in the developing world, but anti-money laundering compliance requirements have made it hard for banks and money transmitters to service this market. Ellen Zimiles of Navigant Consulting discusses the delicate balance between regulatory and law enforcement concerns, on the one hand, and business and humanitarian goals on the other.

The most notable quotes from American Banker stories of the previous week. Readers are encouraged to add their own observations in the Comments fields at the bottom of each slide.

Electronic payment companies design, build and operate costly networks that provide secure payment transactions to merchants. Such providers incur significant costs for the services they provide and deserve to charge a market-based rate to their customers.

The House Majority Leader's failure to include mortgage finance reform in his legislative agenda for the fall has sparked more questions about whether Rep. Jeb Hensarling, Patrick McHenry and others can advance his legislation to the floor this year.

The Federal Home Loan Bank system, which has been hurt by successive quarters of low demand for advances, saw its strongest advances growth in nearly six years in the second quarter as banks began to see depositors exit.

The Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago announced Monday it plans to issue mortgage-backed securities guaranteed by the Government National Mortgage Association, or Ginnie Mae.

JPMorgan Chase said it would stop accepting commissions from Assurant under a settlement reached Friday. The two firms have also agreed to pay up to $300 million to resolve allegations that they overbilled homeowners.

Buttercoin wanted to be a Bitcoin exchange, but after being discouraged or outright rejected by over 76 financial institutions, it chose a different path.

California’s legislature has voted to reform a money-transmission law that has come under fire for stymying payments innovation.