Regulation

Rep. Jeb Hensarling, a candidate to assume control of the House Financial Services Committee next year, sharply criticized the Dodd-Frank Act, saying it had severely damaged financial institutions.

A bill that could move quickly in the Senate would subject independent agencies like the FDIC and CFPB to more scrutiny from the president's staff.

The courts' indecision as to whether whistle-blowers who report wrongdoing internally are protected by Dodd-Frank sends one clear message: Come forward at your own risk.

WASHINGTON — The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. warned banks under its watch Wednesday about the risks of acquiring participations in loans while relying too heavily on originating institutions for the underwriting.

The FDIC highlighted continued use of "alternative financial services" in its second-ever survey reporting the share of households that are unbanked or underbanked.

Regulators have a legitimate interest in overseeing activities that threaten a bank. But they should lay off bank affiliates and activities that pose no such threats.

Zions Bancorp. (ZION) is hopeful that it will exit the Troubled Asset Relief Program in late September or early in the fourth quarter.

"No financial institution's collapse could sink our economy"? Funny. "To accord nonbanks parity with banks, just regulate nonbanks more strictly"? Hilarious. But here's a real howler: "We have to go on subsidizing home building and financing."

Banks as a whole continue to invest heavily in bonds issued by Fannie and Freddie, but strategic orientations vary widely across individual companies. Use this interactive graphic to see portfolio composition for big holding companies.

A federal judge approved a class action of thousands who were sued for debts and then had default judgments entered against them. The collection industry has closely watched the case for nearly two years.