Proposed legislation that encourages utility companies to report positive payment data is just one way to improve underserved consumers' access to high-quality credit products they can truly afford.

A breakdown of M&A announcements in the financial services industry for the week ended Nov. 3.

Central Pacific said in a regulatory filing Tuesday that the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. had lifted a memorandum of understanding that obligated the $4.3 billion-asset company’s bank to maintain adequate capital, improve asset quality, provide sufficiently for loan losses and reduce classified assets.

Astoria Federal Savings expects to reopen its Coney Island branch on a limited basis Wednesday to allow customers to view their safety deposit boxes.

Two months after the resignation of its chief executive, First PacTrust Bancorp (BANC) is poised to switch chief financial officers.

Does your bank open early, close late and welcome you seven days a week? Does it let one person tell you yes, but require at least two to say no?

C1 Bank's purchase of U.S. Century Bank in Florida is reportedly being delayed because of difficulty navigating the seller's exit from the Troubled Asset Relief Program.

Despite President Obama's victory Tuesday, the Democrats' financial policy agenda over the next two years will be far more about defending their past achievements than scoring new ones.

Elizabeth Warren, the CFPB architect and frequent bank critic, was elected late Tuesday to the Senate, much to the dismay of the financial services industry.

Matt Wagner, the persistent CEO of PacWest in L.A., reaches a deal to buy First California six months after reporting that the Westlake Village, Calif., company spurned his initial overture.

Business activity in the banking sector improved significantly in September, rising for the fourth consecutive month, according to industry executives surveyed for American Banker's latest Index of Banking Activity.

The Federal Reserve Board has ended a written agreement with Boscobel Bancorp that required the Wisconsin company to serve as a source of strength for its Community First Bank.

Although the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.'s yearlong study of challenges and opportunities for community banks is expected to yield a final report next month, the agency will release an update on some of its findings this week.

Community banks are geared up to spend more on technology next year, according to a study conducted in September by U.S. audit and advisory firm KPMG.

As Capital One demonstrates, establishing yourself in a growth market like Louisiana can mean providing the crying towel after a big loss on football Saturday.

Banks have hired thousands of employees to handle a crush of work from mortgage refinancing. The big question looming is what to do with those "permanent" employees once the refi market cools down.

In its $175 million offering, the $24.4 billion-asset City National is selling 7 million depositary shares at $25 each, the company said Monday. Each depositary share represents a one-fortieth interest in a Series C preferred share.

Banks and their customers were battered by last week's storm, and many are still picking up the pieces. Click to see how banks are waiving fees, suspending foreclosure sales, keeping some offices closed for months and responding in other ways to this crisis.

Citizens Community Bank in South Hill, Va., has named James R. Black, who has been its chief financial officer since May 2007, as its president and chief executive officer.

International Bancshares in Laredo, Texas, reported lower income as its net interest margin contracted. The company's third-quarter earnings fell more than 19% from a year earlier, to $22 million.