Regulation

Federal regulators ought to start over on the Volcker Rule. Policymakers could meet the July 21 effective date if they stripped the plan down to its essence.

A decline in the foreclosure inventory and fewer new foreclosures initiated signal that servicers may be scaling back dual tracking processes, the OCC's lead mortgage expert said Wednesday.

Why does Harp 2.0 continue the incrementalism that marred the first incarnation of the refi program and many of the housing policies the president has put forth?

The bank's plan to convert troubled loans to rentals will benefit all concerned. A special unit for servicing toxic assets can help, if run wisely. Principal reductions could seriously backfire.

WASHINGTON — A House panel on Tuesday approved a bipartisan bill aimed at shoring up the finances of the Federal Housing Administration.

The House on Tuesday gave final approval to a bill that will allow some small banks to raise additional capital without registering with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Consumers will be able to discharge student loans in bankruptcy if Sen. Richard Durbin gets his way. Banks are vehemently opposing the move.

In his third lecture, Federal Reserve Board Chairman Bernanke said regulators cannot tolerate continuance of "too big to fail" institutions and government bailouts when firms take excessive risks.

A clubby corner of the mortgage market has sprung back to life thanks to the historic settlement between banks and governments over foreclosure practices.

The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas has named longtime staffer E. Ann Worthy as its new head of banking supervision.