Retail & Commercial

Consumer advocates are urging local governments and courts to consider a person’s ability to pay before assessing fines and fees for such infractions as unpaid traffic tickets. Such changes could help low-income households avoid bankruptcy — and perhaps even make them more bankable.

Virginia National will set aside up to $950,000 to cover losses after ReliaMax, a firm that issues surety bonds for student loans, was placed into liquidation.

When bank customers are treated poorly by branch employees, it can damage the relationship even if the specific issue is effectively resolved.

A first-in-the-nation ordinance, passed by the city council in the wake of the Wells Fargo scandal, would require banks that want the city’s business to reveal if they have sales quotas for employees. It remains to be seen, though, whether Mayor Eric Garcetti will sign the measure into law.

The Albany, N.Y. based credit union announced the program just in time for the Fourth of July.

Northwest Bancshares in Pennsylvania, which built a reputation as an active acquirer, is taking a step back under Ronald Seiffert to evaluate ways to grow without M&A.

The final sale price came it at $6.9 billion, or about $900 million more than what the two firms agreed upon when the deal was announced in November.

"Banks should be investing in innovation in this area or risk getting left behind," a fintech CEO warns.

Aquesta Financial Holdings expects to record a post-tax gain of $1.7 million from the sale of its insurance business.

A decades-old Fed charter could help banks develop new cooperatives to combat economic inequality.