Retail & Commercial

The government-sponsored enterprises just went a long way toward encouraging lenders to make more loans to borrowers with lower credit scores.

Household debt has increased in three consecutive quarters for the first time in about six years, according to a report released Tuesday by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

Banks are adding more stock to their top employees' compensation packages, according to executive recruiter Rod Taylor. That can help some bankers reap bigger payouts if they work for a company that is likely to get sold, although for some bankers, "cash is still king," Taylor says.

Banker compensation trends were mixed last year, particularly among the nation's largest institutions. Average CEO compensation at the nation's four largest banks rose 10% in 2013, compared to a year earlier, based on data from governance watchdog GMI Ratings. However, CEO compensation fell 16%, on average, at other banks with assets of at least $50 billion.

The Federal Housing Administration gave more details Tuesday about a program to reward borrowers who get counseling and a quality assurance initiative meant to ease lenders' fears about accommodating riskier borrowers.

In a wide-ranging speech on Tuesday, new FHFA Director Mel Watt said he would not weigh in on the housing finance reform debate percolating in Congress, while also detailing what changes he plans to make at the agency, including encouraging more access to credit.

Citizens Bank of Edmond, a $252 million-asset bank led by Jill Castilla, is eager to show that a lack of size shouldn't hold a bank back from doing things differently. The bank is embracing new ATM technology and active use of social media.

Median CEO pay at the four largest banks rose 16.7% last year compared to 2012, according to governance watchdog GMI Ratings. In comparison, median pay for the other banks with at least $50 billion in assets fell 17%. Here are the industry's highest-compensated CEOs.

Median pay for CEOs at banks with less than $20 billion of assets typically pales in comparison with the executive compensation at larger institutions. Still, some CEOs at smaller banks are richly rewarded. Figures, provided by GMI Ratings and SNL Financial, are for 2013.

Executive pay packages have long been structured to reflect performance. But one key task that often gets short shrift from bank directors and CEOs is succession planning. Now pressure is mounting for that to change.