Retail & Commercial

Many problems with payday products are concocted by activists and politicians with mercenary intent who are more interested in squelching innovation than letting people make choices for themselves.

More regional and community banks have selling noncumulative perpetual preferred stock to bolster Tier 1 capital and fund expansion.

After 10 years of helping to build up expectations at PNC, Bill Demchak will have to surpass them after he becomes CEO this spring.

Square Inc. is introducing hardware designed to work with its mobile-payment software, seeking to replace cash registers by companies including NCR Corp. and stepping up competition with eBay Inc. and Intuit Inc.

First Financial Bankshares (FFIN) in Abilene, Texas, has agreed to buy Orange Savings Bank in Orange, Texas.

JPMorgan Chase (JPM) is facing another call from institutional investors to separate the roles of chairman and chief executive.

In 2012, identity fraud incidents increased by more than one million victims. Fraudsters stole more than $21 billion overall—the highest amount in three years, according to Javelin Strategy & Research.

Securant Bank in Menomonee Falls, Wis., has agreed to sell its trust business to an Illinois bank.

PremierWest Bancorp's campaign to persuade shareholders to approve a merger with AmericanWest Bank has not yet reached its goal. The deal is on hold for one more month as the companies wait for proxy votes to come in.

Even as the financial crisis gives way to a recovery, everyone from Sen. Elizabeth Warren to comedian Stephen Colbert are demanding Washington get tough on banks and bankers. The question is what sort of action-if any-will follow.