Banking

The federal push to stamp out illegal online lending is having unintended negative consequences, an umbrella group for state banking regulators says.

CB Financial Services (CBFV) in Carmichaels, Pa., has agreed to buy FedFirst Financial (FFCO) in Monessen, Pa.

Behind Citigroup's first-quarter results that momentarily pleased investors are darker signs: rising legal and restructuring costs that take away from efforts to reenergize revenue.

Joseph Stilwell used a photo of the then-chairman of Harvard Illinois snoozing at last year's annual meeting as part of his fight for representation on the board. Harvard's board accused Stilwell of waging his battle "in the gutter."

The ATM Industry Association is examining ways the machines can be used to better reach lower-income consumers. Sending money to someone, paying bills, and loading a portion of a check onto a prepaid card are among the types of transactions the group is envisioning can take place through ATMs.

The company, which was an active acquirer before the financial crisis, has returned to its roots after a long hiatus brought on by the downturn and integration problems. Archie Brown, who became CEO in 2008, says the company is taking a more disciplined approach this time.

J.P. Morgan has partnered with ProQuest, a cloud-based data management technology provider in Ann Arbor, Mich., to make J.P. Morgan's company and economic research data available to business students, academics and other researchers.

First Mariner's holding company, First Mariner Bancorp (FMAR), filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in February as part of a $100 million recapitalization plan.

The Minnesota-based agency agreed to pay a civil penalty in North Carolina to refund processing fees customers in the state submitted along with monthly payments.

The financial services technology company FIS has expanded its loan software and services business by acquiring CMSI.

M&T Bank (MTB) in Buffalo reported lower earnings in the first quarter as customer activity dwindled in the first two months of 2014 and costs associated with regulatory requirements grew.

U.S. Bank has agreed to buy Ally Bank's document-custodian business.

Kenneth Lehman is getting ready to increase his stake in Liberty Bell Bank (LBBB) in Marlton, N.J.

Navient, a company formed from Sallie Mae, will launch next month and take over Sallie Mae's loan management and asset recovery business.

The odds are stacked against anyone who uses the telephone to make a living. Before you get a word in, people are quoting bits and pieces of anti-collection propaganda - and they often are misinformed.

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The Mortgage Bankers Association lowered its 2014 origination estimate after a disappointing March report on home sales.

Mobile wallets and mobile point of sale systems have tried many tactics to win over merchants by cutting costs. Some vendors have been extremely inventive in how they push cheaper payment options.

The Export-Import Bank of the United States and the Eastern and Southern African Trade and Development Bank signed a $100 million memorandum of understanding that promotes American businesses operating in the region.