Banking

The Buffalo, N.Y. company has struggled to gain traction from last year's purchase of more than 100 HSBC branches.

With branches becoming more like expensive billboards, banks are searching for lower-cost ways to maintain visibility in existing markets and raise their profiles in newer ones.

First Niagara (FNFG) in Buffalo, N.Y. is looking for a permanent chief executive following the abrupt departure of John Koelmel.

Edward DeMarco, acting director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, all but begged lawmakers on Tuesday to begin the process of reforming the nation's housing finance system, saying Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have been in conservatorship for far too long.

Cyber criminals are leveraging human weaknesses in attacks on U.S. companies, and the rise of mobile computing only provides more access points, Kevin Mandia told a Senate committee.

Bank of America Corp. has enhanced its iOS app to improve accessibility for people who are blind or visually impaired.

The European banks that own Visa Europe are reportedly considering selling the entity to U.S.-based Visa Inc. to clear the way for an eventual rival system in Europe.

Instead of its just releasing out-of-court agreements on request, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. has devoted an area of its website for posting settlement documents that will be updated regularly.

Eagle Bancorp in Bethesda, Md., said Tuesday that it had opened a branch in Alexandria, Va., marking its sixth branch in the state.

The Federal Reserve Board has taken action against a Midwest banking company.

Huntington Bancshares announced Tuesday that it has exceeded its three-year pledge to lend $4 billion to small businesses across its six-state footprint.

First Financial Corp. (THFF) of Terre Haute, Ind., is buying seven branches and two drive-up locations in Illinois from Bank of America (BAC).

Backbase announced Tuesday that it's created a new portal to help banks to better manage and optimize their online platforms.

A unit of SVB Financial Group (SIVB) in Santa Clara, Calif., plans to raise $300 million for a venture capital fund.

BankUnited, the Florida bank led by John Kanas, has hired two of his former colleagues at Capital One — Joe Roberto and Kelly Sheehan — to run its nascent operation in the Big Apple.

Genesco's $13 million lawsuit against Visa Inc., filed last week in a Tennessee court, has a similar ring to it as a countersuit Cisero's Ristorante and Nightclub in Park City, Utah filed last year against its acquiring bank and processor.

Mary Jo White, Obama's nominee to head the SEC, received near-unanimous support from the Senate Banking Committee during a vote Tuesday morning, while backing for Richard Cordray, director of the CFPB, was split as expected along party lines.

HomeStreet (HMST) in Seattle may be nearing an exit from a cease-and-desist order after paying an important debt.

The bank's online and mobile banking suffered Monday night, showing customers zero balances in their checking accounts.

Nomura Research Institute (NRI) is expanding its business in Europe with a new office.