Banking

Dueling blockchain stories — one arguing it was virtually useless, the other saying it could change real estate lending — seized the top spots this week, while readers also focused on tax reform aftermath and a key Senate retirement.

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau complaints dropped last year for most of the big banks, including Wells Fargo, though they rose sharply at Capital One.

Banks have been in full cost-cutting mode in recent years, but with profits expected to increase substantially as a result of tax reform, all analysts and investors want to know is how they plan to spend their tax savings.

Rather than jump right away into lending to car buyers, Access National will start by offering CRE and M&A financing to dealerships.

Overstock CEO and Wall Street gadfly Patrick Byrne wants to create a market free from trading practices he has long decried.

Several women are viewed as possible successors for a retiring William Dudley. Pam Codispoti has plans to up the millennial appeal of Chase’s 5,200 branches. What’s hot in fintech for 2018? Plus, the year of #MeToo in review.

SunTrust and First Republic are taking benefits they offer to their workers, such as financial wellness training and student debt repayment, and extending them to corporate clients as benefits they can offer to their own employees. In doing so, they are strengthening relationships with valuable commercial customers.

The Trump administration should not name J. Mark McWatters as head of the consumer agency, given his lack of experience overseeing commercial banks and his leadership of the National Credit Union Administration, a cheerleader for the industry it supervises.

The company will also record a charge tied to the impairmant of its deferred-tax asset.

Readers react to President Trump considering a credit union regulator to head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, debate a delay for top banking nominees, opine on the value of blockchain, and more.

The Trump administration should not name J. Mark McWatters as head of the consumer agency, given his lack of experience overseeing commercial banks and his leadership of the National Credit Union Administration, a cheerleader for the industry it supervises.

Agency plans to address issues and regulation of cybercurrencies; OCC says the bank failed to fix problems cited in a 2012 consent order.

The information you need to start your day, from PaymentsSource and around the Web. Today: More bitcoin restrictions in China; Dash lures retailers; LG's new robots; Tech vet joins blockchain challenger bank.

Banks still have advantages in the battle against big tech firms like Amazon and Facebook, but they will need to capitalize on those to survive.

The company, which sold about $3 million in stock through a private placement, also plans to add branches on Staten Island.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ decision to rescind an Obama-era directive that helped foster the marijuana sector’s growth raises new risks for banks and credit unions that do business with growers and dispensaries.

Customers saw transactions recorded multiple times and experienced drained accounts and long hold times. It’s a warning to all financial institutions as they head further into mobile-only banking — glitches are more visible and painful and need to be addressed faster than ever.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ decision to rescind an Obama-era directive that helped foster the marijuana sector’s growth raises new risks for banks and credit unions that do business with growers and dispensaries.

Banks, especially smaller institutions, will be forced to find more ways to differentiate, Bryan Jordan said in an interview that also covered his company's recent purchase of Capital Bank and how tax reform will immediately stimulate the economy.

Banks are working hard to reshape their businesses to meet new demands, but leaders must be careful not to alienate their best workers in the process.