Banking

Fidelity National Financial Inc. agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that its proposed $2.9 billion acquisition of Lender Processing Services Inc. (LPS) would substantially lessen competition by combining the firms’ title plant assets in several local markets in Oregon.

Family Focus FCU is helping members whose debit cards have been blocked due to the Target breach still receive 24/7 access to their money.

Consumer statute lawsuits in November were consistent with the trend seen throughout 2013. Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and Fair Credit Reporting Act litigation both declined while Telephone Consumer Protection Act lawsuits expanded.

Financial institutions are under more pressure than ever to properly manage their data troves. But many in the industry have yet to master data governance.

The Federal Trade Commission cleared Fidelity National's $2.9 billion deal for Lender Processing Services on condition that Fidelity sell a copy of databases serving six Oregon counties to preserve competition.

Huntington Bancshares (HBAN) in Columbus, Ohio, plans to close nine branches after its acquisition of Camco Financial (CAFI) in Cambridge, Ohio.

Anchor Bancorp Wisconsin in Madison plans to return to the Nasdaq through an offering of common stock after it restructured debt by filing for bankruptcy.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), the country's central bank, has decided not to interfere with transactions made in the digital currency.

A man dressed in Kris Kringle's trademark snowy beard and red stocking cap robbed a SunTrust Banks (STI) branch in Port Orange, Fla., on Monday, according to multiple news reports.

For the second time in a little over a year, regulators have punished the credit card giant for allegedly using deceptive marketing and unfair billing practices in selling add-on products.

American Express has been ordered by federal regulators to pay nearly $76 million to settle allegations that it used to deceptive marketing and unfair billing practices to sell credit card add-on products to its customers.

In a wide-ranging interview, Carver Bancorp CEO Deborah Wright says she expects 2014 to see the New York bank target more underbanked customers, expand lending to nonprofits and serve as a beacon of hope to other minority-owned banks.

Three states recently legalized Internet wagering, but so far banks have been reluctant to let gamblers use credit cards to make their bets.

Unregulated entities face a tough road ahead. More banks will align IT risk with enterprise risk management. Banks will place heightened emphasis on their overall risk management vision, and data architecture will emerge as critical competency.

MutualFirst Financial (MFSF) in Muncie, Ind., has exited the Treasury Department's Small Business Lending Fund.

First West Virginia Bancorp (FWV) in Wheeling has shifted some of its leaders following the death of its longtime chief executive.

Underperformance was a matter of perspective this year. A strong stock market provided a lift to all banks with more than $20 billion in assets, though these institutions underperformed relative to the 30% rise in the KBW Bank Stock Index.

By analyzing behavior such as cell phone records, two startups have found a way to help those without bank accounts to obtain credit.

The Target breach has many in the industry thinking: Has the time come for EMV? Is the magnetic stripe dead? What is the final solution to card fraud, if there is one?

MBT Financial (MBTF) in Monroe, Mich., is selling $14 million of common stock to two institutional investors and will sell another $6 million of stock through a rights offering.