Banking

Consumer lending in September fell to its lowest point since early in the year, according to the latest American Banker Index of Banking Activity. Commercial lending provided a minor bright spot, but credit quality may be buckling amid intense competition.

Bank analyst David Hendler, known for his contrarian views on the industry, has left the research firm CreditSights and plans to start a risk-management consultancy.

Recognizing that money issues stir up emotions, and wanting to draw people into its branches, Bank of New Zealand (BNZ) partnered with a software company to read people's feelings about money via a webcam on its new site: EmotionScan.

Google is sidestepping the telcos that seek to dominate the mobile wallet.

Cardtronics Inc. (CATM) has signed a long-term agreement with Houston-based Landmark Industries, naming Cardtronics the exclusive provider of ATM services for Timewise Food Stores, a Texas convenience store chain.

National Bank Holdings Corp. (NBHC) in Greenwood Village, Colo., has bought back about $100 million worth of shares from an institutional investor.

Banesco USA in Coral Gables, Fla., reportedly received a $10 million investment from its shareholders during the third quarter.

The investment and corporate banking division of BMO Financial Group (BMO) has promoted senior economist Michael Gregory to deputy chief economist and head of U.S. economics.

No market should over-rely on one entity. But references in regulations and lending guidelines to the dominant credit score provider have created unintentional government brand endorsement and blocked new entrants.

A record fine against Infosys Ltd. targets outsourcing companies and their alleged abuse of existing immigration laws to feed the insatiable desire for highly skilled engineers in the U.S.

Territorial Savings Bank in Honolulu plans to shed its federal charter and become a state-chartered savings bank.

Completed U.S. foreclosures dropped to 51,000 in September from 84,000 in September 2010, a 39% decrease that marks the biggest annual decline since the housing downturn began in 2007, according to data from CoreLogic.

Taylor Capital Group (TAYC) in Chicago is buying back its outstanding Troubled Asset Relief Program shares as it waits to close its sale to MB Financial (MBFI).

On the first day RoboCoin's Bitcoin ATM was deployed, one third of its users were new to the digital currency.

The fireworks over a Pew Charitable Trusts report on lump-sum payday loans continued Friday as Pew challenged criticisms of its survey methodology.

Half of banking and other business leaders expect a stronger economy, and 44% expect a stronger M&A market, in the next 12 months, according to a new survey. Regulation remains a concern, but dealmakers are largely ignoring the lingering problems in Washington, observers say.

Stopping a proposed requirement that banks offer "plain-vanilla" credit products was an industry victory in the run-up to Dodd-Frank, but many believe it still survived.

A credit union client of technology and payments firm Jack Henry has integrated its software in accordance with new industry standards.

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