Banking

New federal requirements for private mortgage insurers aim to standardize coverage across the market. That's left some companies looking for ways to distinguish their products as they vie for lenders' business.

In the banking world, branches came first and ATMs came later to streamline the experience. But in the Bitcoin world, ATMs came first with limited features, and the ATM makers are working hard to add the sort of services that one might find in a mainstream bank branch.

A disparate-impact ruling against a small Texas bank was supposed to lower the cost of small-dollar loans for Hispanic borrowers, but it has instead had the opposite effect, writes Attorney Peter Weinstock.

Google Inc.'s decision to remove some search results to a British Broadcasting Corp. 2007 article about Merrill Lynch & Co. has drawn criticism from the U.K. state-funded media company.

GNB Financial Services in Gratz, Pa., has agreed to buy FNBM Financial in Minersville, Pa.

Regulatory requirements that bar homeowners with imperfect credit scores from receiving a mortgage are hurting minorities and the economy as a whole.

MainStreet Bank (MNSB) in Fairfax, Va., reported higher profits on double-digit loan and deposit growth in the second quarter.

Plaza Bank (PZBW) in Seattle has raised $4.2 million through a stock offering. The $79 million-asset bank said in a press release Thursday that unnamed individual investors participated in the offering.

SunTrust Banks (STI) has agreed to pay as much as $320 million to settle an investigation into its administration of Home Affordable Modification Program loans.

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SunTrust agreed to pay as much as $320 million to resolve federal allegations it mishandled applicants for mortgage modifications.

Bank of America (BAC) has donated more than 240 homes in Florida to military veterans, including three who received Purple Hearts.

Investar Holding (ISTR) in Baton Rouge, La., raised more than $40 million from its initial public offering.

TFS Financial announced dividend plans recently that have many wondering whether it is headed toward a second-step conversion in the near future. The speculation makes sense, but the Cleveland company would face some obstacles.

Capital One has snatched a designer from Google's touted advanced technology and projects team to help boost the bank's mobile commerce and payments technology development.

As interest rates rise and loans become more likely to stay on the books, more banks may show up on the buy side of the market for mortgage servicing rights

UMB Financial (UMBF) in Kansas City, Mo., will settle a dispute over an asset purchase agreement.

A recap of the informed opinions (and the discussions they generated) on BankThink this week.

Throughout Europe and Asia in particular, ATMs are being used to distribute an increasingly wide array of financial and non-financial products and services.

The total number of new bank-issued credit cards in Q1 is 11.3 million, a six-year high and an increase of 17.2% from the year-ago period, according to the latest Equifax National Consumer Credit Trends Report.