Retail & Commercial

Payments upstarts like Dwolla and Chirpify are aiming to capitalize on social media's popularity. But the question remains whether consumers will flock to a system that lets the world know what they're buying.

Every banker is under scrutiny, but last year we pegged 10 executives as potential news makers for 2012. Some made big headlines; others seemed to get through the year without making much noise. Here is a recap.

S&T Bancorp in Indiana, Pa., has named two banking veterans to leadership roles.

The Bancorp in Wilmington, Del., plans to raise $50 million through a common stock offering.

Fulton Financial has agreed to sell a payments business to Canadian group.

A yearlong FDIC research project charts the impact of consolidation and other pressures on small banks, but suggests continued viability for the sector.

Institution for Savings in Newburyport opened a branch in a Topsfield, Mass., high school after a large bank left and explains why its move is good business.

Although this initial phase of the program may seem beneficial as it seeks to keep European competitors honest, enforced convergence is a double-edged sword that raises worrisome issues for our country.

The alternative payments provider Dwolla has garnered much attention from its recent move to facilitate payments through Twitter, but the concept has been tried before — repeatedly, and with few success stories.

Hedge funds and private-equity firms are betting on delinquent home loans being sold by the FHA as the government agency accelerates debt sales to avert a bailout and stem foreclosures.