The Fed and Treasury fought fiercely to prevent Americans from learning that the Troubled Asset Relief Program was a giant bailout for banks-not homeowners-says the former Special Inspector General.

The Washington-Wall Street revolving door blinded policymakers to outside concerns and doomed the Troubled Asset Relief Program, says its former Special Inspector General.

As a former banker, I watched in amazement and disgust as the country's largest banks morphed from trusted fiduciaries of customer financial assets to unrepentant predators of consumer financial assets in just a few decades.

After putting its initial public offering plans on ice, Customers Bancorp in Wyomissing, Pa., has placed $270 million of its investment portfolio on the auction block.

First California Financial Group's decision to turn down a buyout offer from PacWest Bancorp (PACW) has angered at least one of the company's largest shareholders.

Many banks reported strong loan production in the first quarter, but most bankers acknowledged that overall loan demand remains tepid and that the activity is largely a result of stealing business from rival banks.

Faced with losing key commercial clients, a number of community banks are looking to lower loan pricing by offering floating rates. By doing so, bankers are putting themselves at risk if the Fed aggressively raises interest rates.

I guess I'm tired of reading and hearing banks and their managements cursed, ridiculed and extolled for causing the financial meltdown and economic crisis. It seems that most everyone from Washington to the "Occupy" groups wants a piece of banking's hide for the pain of this recent experience.

Jamie Dimon’s mea culpa over a $2 billion trading comes at a lousy time for bankers opposed to trading restrictions. It also raises questions about the effectiveness of big banks’ risk management.

Hudson Valley Holding (HVB) in Yonkers, N.Y., has named a new leadership team following the resignation of founder and Chairman William E. Griffin.

WSFS Financial (WSFS) of Wilmington, Del., has lowered its previously reported first-quarter earnings after the implementation of a new risk-rating system led it set aside more funds for loan losses.

BancorpSouth in Tupelo, Miss., announced Thursday that its longtime leader Aubrey Patterson plans to relinquish his duties as chief executive in 2013.

Diebold said it will provide and manage the security of Patriot Bank's new headquarters.

I've never been able to square bankers' constant demands for less regulation with their repeated requests for more government backing on loans, deposits and insurance.

The Federal Reserve Board has entered into written agreements requiring two holding companies to serve as sources of strength for their community banks.

Despite richer returns available further out on the yield curve, large banks have generally not shifted toward long-dated securities, according to regulatory data.

Thomas E. Wiseman, president at Ohio Valley Banc Corp. (OVBC), will add chief executive to his title.

Piraeus Bank, plagued by the debt crisis in Greece, has hired KBW to shop its U.S. bank, according to industry sources.

Expatriates of Somalia threaten to close their accounts at U.S. Bancorp and Wells Fargo unless the banks wire their money to suffering family members back home. But the big banks, and others in the industry, say federal rules make it too hard to offer the service.

The best way to stave off regulatory excess in the wake of a financial crisis is to stop causing crises in the first place. More restraint on financial institutions' part could help.