FHA Goes Back to the Future, Cyberattacks and M&A Skepticism: The Week in Quotes

April 9, 2013 8:29 AM

The most notable quotes from American Banker stories of the previous week. Readers are encouraged to add their own observations in the Comments fields at the bottom of each slide.

(Image: Fotolia)

On reports that the Federal Housing Administration is working on a plan to encourage banks to lend to people with poor credit histories:

"It's like we're back in 2003 and no one has learned anything."

- Mark Calabria, director of financial regulation studies, Cato Institute

(Image: Thinkstock)

Arguing that regional banks have managed regulatory pressures better than large banks:

"No one is talking about breaking us up."

- Kevin Kabat, chief executive of Fifth Third Bancorp (FITB)

On whether the government would still bail out a large bank:

"I don't think anybody can be assured of that right now."

- Daniel Tarullo, Federal Reserve Board governor

On why he's skeptical about the proposed merger between Provident New York Bancorp (PBNY) and Sterling Bancorp (STL):

"From a strategic standpoint, it is a home run. But financially, I'm a little hesitant to embrace the projections that are out there."

- Joseph Fenech, an analyst at Sandler O'Neill

(Image: Thinkstock)

On why retail market share is no longer key to banks' bottom lines:

"The truth is, banks...can essentially be doing terribly in terms of the marketplace while improving their profitability."

- Joe Hagan, senior vice president at research firm TNS

(Image: Thinkstock)

On the five-year prison sentence given to a former executive at the Appalachian Community Bank in Georgia, which failed in 2010:

"This bank was robbed from the inside, not by a bandit carrying a gun, but a bank officer carrying a pen."

- Sally Yates, U.S. attorney

(Image: Thinkstock)

On the cyberattacks that have waylaid more than a dozen banks' websites since late last year:

"The attackers obviously have someone who's put a lot of money into infrastructure and these guys have the capability to launch attacks like the world has never seen before."

- Dave Ostertag, a global investigation manager with Verizon

(Image: Thinkstock)

On Regions Bank's decision to charge for mobile remote deposit:

"We don't think cost will be a major tipping point for the vast majority of consumers."

- Scott Peters, Regions Bank's head of consumer services

(Image: Thinkstock)

On Green Dot's (GDOT) decision to let customers pay what they want for its new mobile bank account:

"Why did the Cadillac have fins? It didn't help with the aerodynamics. It didn't have any mechanics. The answer is: because it looked cool."

- Steven Streit, Green Dot's founder and chief executive

(Image: Michael Chu)