Retail & Commercial

The issue of serving so-called "underbanked" borrowers has taken on a new urgency since regulators began cracking down on payday and certain other low-dollar, high-interest loans, prompting fears of a credit crunch for low-income consumers. The FDIC is looking at banking by mobile phone and other possible solutions as a way of bridging the gap.

First Merchants Corp.(FRME) in Muncie, Ind., is benefiting from loan growth after a recent acquisition.

The National Credit Union Administration approved a final rule on capital planning and stress testing at its open board meeting Thursday that contained some changes — but maybe not enough to satisfy credit unions.

Bankers aren't normally thought of as sartorial trendsetters, but JPMorgan Chase and Huntington recently won awards from the Image Apparel Institute for their branch employees' uniforms.

The Senate Banking Committee is scheduled to vote Tuesday on a stack of pending nominees to the Federal Reserve Board and other agencies, before it proceeds with a highly anticipated vote on a bill to overhaul the housing finance market.

Reliant Bank in Brentwood, Tenn., is reportedly in talks to sell itself with Commerce Union Bank in Springfield, Tenn.

Bigger banks have shifted their efforts to deposit growth in advance of proposed liquidity rules. As a result, community banks are seeing more opportunities to lend, particularly in commercial lines that were once the domain of larger lenders.

A rundown of high-profile investors in small U.S. banks who command attention and their investment styles.

An plunge in income tax expenses and organic loan growth helped propel Valley National Bancorp (VLY) in Wayne, N.J., to a solid first quarter.

A key point of contention is the 10 basis point user fee that the proposed Federal Mortgage Insurance Corp. would charge to support affordable housing efforts.