Bank technology

This week, the Internal Revenue Service launched its online registration system for banks to begin complying with the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act. Banks that thought the enforcement dates would be pushed back indefinitely will have to make systems and operations changes.

Sterling Financial, which has 173 branches in Washington, Oregon, California, and Idaho, announced the launch of its free mobile app on Tuesday.

Free checking accounts are on the wane at traditional banks, according to a MoneyRates.com survey released Monday. But customers can still avoid monthly maintenance fees at a majority of online banks.

First Credit Union of Chandler, Ariz., has selected AnyHour Solutions for its call center services.

Monona State Bank in Wisconsin has begun using Encompass360, Ellie Mae's system for managing mortgage originations and servicing, the financial technology company announced Tuesday.

First National Bank announced Tuesday that it's made a $300,000 investment in the Colorado Enterprise Fund's Early Stage Loan Pool.

A surge in mortgage activity left Evolve Bank & Trust in Memphis feeling the need for a more efficient way to handle commissions and recordkeeping.

New details have emerged about how the Perkele crime kit attacks bank customers through their Android devices and PCs.

TSYS announced Monday that it's extending its partnership with credit scoring and analytics company FICO and jointly offering a fraud management system.

Fifth Third Bank announced in August job hunting tools are now among the resources available on two of the Cincinnati bank's "ebuses."

Bank Leumi will host tech entrepreneurs from its home country for a month-long mentoring program in New York, joining other banks in soliciting new digital ideas from outside their organizations.

From California to New York, state regulators have been clamping down on payments industry innovators, forcing some out of business and discouraging others from even entering the market. That raises the question of whether antiquated statutes and ways of thinking have become an impediment to one of the banking industry's most promising growth businesses.

The Canadian financial services technology developer Davis + Henderson closed its $1.2 billion acquisition of Harland Financial Solutions on Friday.

IBM has agreed to purchase Trusteer, an Israeli company whose technology aims to prevent fraud on mobile devices and in computer applications—and whose client roster already includes Bank of America (BAC), ING Direct and HSBC.

Mobile malware attacks have increased six-fold over the past several months from year-earlier levels, research indicates. What's more, criminals' are seven times more likely to target banking customers with phishing attempts than people receiving email from another type of company. With so much going on in the world of cyberthreats, here's a look at some of the most important recent developments that has left banks facing millions of dollars in losses.

Florida regulators have fined the payments startup Square $507,000 for operating in the state without a money transmitter license.

As mobile banking and commerce have taken off, so too have the number of bugs in wireless systems. Here's a look at how some industry leaders are exterminating them and what it means for banks.

Banks have long struggled to make sense of the reams of customer data they collect across product lines. The rise of mobile banking is making this task even harder.

AvantCredit said Wednesday that it has raised $20 million in series B equity round led by August Capital and Victory Park Capital.

SunTrust Banks (STI) said it is working with the bank technology vendor BCSG to offer small-business customers online lending, planning and credit tools.