Retail & Commercial

Paul Whitmore was direct and blunt in his assessment of the state of payments in the U.S. when he spoke at this week's Chicago Payments Symposium at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago: "I've been sitting here for two days, wondering how did you get yourself into this mess?"

Dwolla now allows users to make payments in batches, a feature designed to elevate the service beyond person-to-person payments and turn it into a viable tool for business.

Huntington Bancshares, based in Columbus, Ohio, said it plans to add 250 jobs in the Buckeye State over the next four years to support its new credit card business.

General Electric held takeover talks with New Jersey's Hudson City Bancorp shortly before the lender agreed to a $3.7 billion sale to M&T Bank in August, three people with knowledge of the matter said.

LINTHICUM, Md. – State Employees CU of Maryland officially opened its 22nd branch Monday at the University of Maryland in downtown Baltimore.

SPRINGFIELD, Ore. – Northwest Community CU has submitted a proposal to officials in Eugene to buy a 1.8-acre city-owned plot and develop it into a new headquarters for the $720 million credit union.

Lower credit costs and higher mortgage banking revenue pushed MainSource Financial Group's (MSFG) third-quarter net income up 34.5% from a year earlier to $6.5 million.

The Walla Walla, Wash., company Banner (BANR) said profit rose on improved income from mortgage banking, deposit fees and other service charges.

A state law that eased restrictions on credit card rates in Ohio influenced the move, the Columbus company said.

Leaders of the largest banks are using third-quarter calls to discuss a reluctance to pursue bank acquisitions. The underlying message? Smaller banks are likely to spur the next big wave of consolidation.