Regulation

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's announcement Wednesday that it was targeting overdraft protection practices was a stark reminder for bankers that even if they have already made significant changes, it is likely not enough, observers warned.

The acting commissioner of the Federal Housing Administration on Wednesday blasted news reports that claim Bank of America Corp. was essentially bailing out the agency's mortgage insurance fund.

Like the mast of a sailing ship coming over the horizon, the first sign that Congress may restructure Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac has appeared.

Bankers shouldn't complain about intrusive government regulation while begging Congress to extend unlimited deposit insurance on large transaction accounts. It's disingenuous, and perhaps worse, it's dangerous politics.

The Obama Administration is pushing back against a recent news report that concluded U.S. taxpayers will subsidize the roughly $25 billion mortgage settlement.

CoBank, the largest lender in the government-backed Farm Credit System, reported record profits in 2011 as higher prices for key commodities such as corn, wheat and soy led to increased loan demand from large cooperatives and agribusinesses.

For banks, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's plans to take a close look at checking account overdraft fees puts a multi-billion dollar source of revenue at risk.

WASHINGTON — The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau launched an inquiry Feb. 22 into overdraft-protection practices, requesting data from a number of banks on their policies, terms and marketing of such programs.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau said Wednesday it plans to examine overdraft protection practices, including policies, terms and marketing of such programs, and their effect on consumers.

In a perfect world, state attorneys general and the U.S. Department of Justice would have worked hand in hand with bank regulators to fix foreclosure wrongs. But that's not how the world works.