Retail & Commercial

A recap of the informed opinions (and the discussions they generated) on BankThink this week, including thoughts on regulatory complexity, Jamie Dimon's defense of the megabank model, and how vulnerable banks really are to tech startups.

Two House Financial Services subcommittee chairmen are urging the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to delay enforcement of a new disclosure regime due to take effect this summer until Jan. 1.

Synovus Financial in Columbus, Ga., has a new chief executive for its Tallahassee State Bank: Matt Brown, who had been a market president at Centennial Bank.

Bankers who hold political offices can become advocates for their communities while boosting the profile of their banks. Still, they must be mindful of the time constraints and potential conflicts of interest that come with having dual jobs.

The Western Independent Bankers, a San Francisco industry group, has a new president and chief executive.

Financial Institutions Inc. in Warsaw, N.Y., increased the size of its debt offering by 14% due to high demand.

A federal court has temporarily halted Los Angeles-based Wealth Educators Inc. and its president from offering mortgage relief services after the Federal Trade Commission charged the operation with failing to provide the help promised to homeowners, while charging a large illegal upfront fee for services.

MultiCare Health Systems, a Tacoma, Wash.-based nonprofit, is the subject of a new report citing questionable billing practices and collection methods that leave some patients in endless cycles of debt.

Critics of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's proposals to rein in payday loans argue that onerous requirements could force many lenders to shut down, leaving cash-strapped Americans with few options for short-term credit. But the truth is payday loans often leave low-income borrowers in even worse straits.

American Banker readers share their views on the most pressing banking topics of the week. Comments are excerpted from reader response sections of AmericanBanker.com articles and from our social media platforms.