Banking

First Federal of Northern Michigan Bancorp's agreement to buy Alpena Banking is a lesson in persistence and keeping communication lines open.

A breakdown of M&A announcements in the financial services industry for the week ended May 31.

Swift in Brussels has announced the five finalists of its third annual Innotribe Startup Challenge, which aims to uncover the most promising innovative financial technology companies.

Apple's announcement that it will make its Touch ID technology available to app developers is good news for bankers who see biometrics as the key to authenticating mobile banking users. But some security experts question whether fingerprint scans are actually more secure than passwords.

Affirm Inc. has raised $45 million to help it target consumers looking for new credit tools to make purchases online, Chief Executive Officer Max Levchin said at Bloomberg's Next Big Thing Summit.

The multi-bank holding company has historically taken a hyperlocal approach in the suburbs with individually branded banks. As it moves deeper into the heart of Chicago, the company is unifying a dozen branches under its Wintrust brand.

President Obama on Monday proposed two plans designed to ease the burden of student loan debt for potentially millions of Americans.

The housing market is unseasonably weak due to consumers' worries about an economic slowdown and a decline in overall household income, according to a Fannie Mae survey.

Demand for credit in Western Canada has increased for four consecutive quarters, while activity in the Eastern provinces continues to slow, according to Equifax Canada's Q1 National Consumer Credit Trends Report.

Community banks can still generate solid returns and take on larger competitors. The ones that shutter are those that have failed to modernize and adapt to the changing times.

Financial Services Roundtable CEO Tim Pawlenty discusses the after-effects of Dodd-Frank, the need to find regulatory balance between providing protection and hindering economic activity, concerns over the Johnson-Crapo GSE reform proposal, and more.

A Southern Illinois town has hired a third-party collection agency to pursue unpaid city fees and fines ranging from criminal offenses to traffic offenses.

While lenders do not ask consumers about sexual orientation, a look at Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data on same-sex couple applicants raises questions about possible discrimination against gays and lesbians.

Doral Financial's (DRL) dispute with the Puerto Rican government over a tax refund will be heard on an expedited basis by the territory's courts.

Wintrust Financial (WTFC) of Rosemont, Ill., is planning to raise capital by issuing subordinated debt.

LOS ANGELES — Moneyworks, a startup that's preparing to roll out its personal financial management app, took home the $10,000 prize in a financial innovation contest Friday.

Shareholders at New York Community Bancorp (NYCB) have rejected the company's compensation packages for top executives.

Consumers increased their borrowing in April, with growth in credit card debt rising at the fastest pace in more than a dozen years.

A reported $12 billion settlement with federal and state authorities could force Bank of America to take a charge eating up most of its second-quarter profits. After that, the bank may finally get to move on.

When Bank of America (BAC) announced a new deposit account with a reliable $4.95 monthly fee, some industry observers questioned whether the Charlotte, N.C., company could squeeze out a profit.