Retail & Commercial

Regulatory approval of Primary Bank in New Hampshire does not make a trend, but observers are hopeful it signals a more promising near future for the chartering of new banks.

Sterne Agee's investment bank was among the most active last year, handling 18 deals. But the parent company's pending sale is leaving observers wondering what will happen to the people who shepherded those transactions.

BBVA Compass has selected Kony Inc.'s application design platform as it looks to create some new mobile banking applications, according to a March 23 press release.

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, announced his ongoing co-sponsorship of legislation aimed at allowing people with outstanding student loan debt to refinance at the lower interest rates offered to new borrowers. The measure has resurfaced in the 114th Congress.

Cathay General Bancorp in Los Angeles has given some executives important additional duties.

Ocwen Financial is fighting back against a group of large bondholders that have accused the Atlanta mortgage servicer of improper servicing practices and an alleged breach of trust.

Thirteen Minnesota hospital systems reported a bad-debt increase of $15 million between 2013 and 2014 even as charity care costs - reported by 10 hospital systems - fell by about $37 million in the same period, according to an analysis by the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Ocwen Financial Corp. said investors in mortgage-backed securities who criticized its servicing policies are trying to force more foreclosures.

Equifax Inc. and Zoot Enterprises announced Monday plans for the release of Mobility Plus, an end-to-end service that leverages Equifax data and Zoot decisioning technology to ease the mobile account opening process while helping to minimize fraud risk.

Bank of America will allow some long- term investors to nominate candidates for its board of directors, the latest company to adopt "proxy access" rules pushed by pension funds.