Banks and thrifts earned $38.7 billion in the third quarter, a 7.3% increase from a year earlier but slightly down from the $40.1 billion earned in the second quarter, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. said Tuesday.

Millennials frequent independent coffee shops and farmers markets, so it stands to reason they'll see the appeal in community banks. Meanwhile, smaller lenders can court young people by appealing to their entrepreneurial spirit.

Growing income inequality is said to be a major reason most consumers plan to spend the same or less than last year on holiday shopping, and it could hurt bank and credit union revenues in the fourth quarter and present them other long-term challenges.

In Bangladesh, the microfinance pioneer operates as profitable bank. But the U.S. arm, which lacks a banking license, is pursuing a different strategy.

Anchor Bank in Lacey, Wash., has been released from a state regulatory order.

With new bank chartering at a standstill, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. has issued new guidance on de novo capital requirements and other issues in part to "demystify the application process."

Before the CFPB imposes new rules on overdraft fees, it should consider whether restricting consumer access to this feature could drive people to more expensive alternatives like payday loans.

Mike Hagedorn, president and CEO of UMB Bank, talks about how his company's strong fee revenue helps it compete on loan pricing, and whether the bank could return to M&A after years on the sideline.

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Millennial women are making great strides in the workforce, but still "channel their inner ninth grade insecure freshman when it comes to financial matters," according to Fidelity's head of personal investing.

MidWestOne Financial Group in Iowa City has agreed to buy Central Bancshares in Golden Valley, Minn.

The acquisition of CapitalSource has pushed PacWest's capital from full to overflowing. With diminished interest in M&A, the Los Angeles company recently doubled its dividend, while analysts expect management to award a special payout in the future.

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

BB&T's chief executive on Thursday warned his peers about the increasing risks being taken in commercial lending.

Fraternity Community Bancorp in Baltimore has agreed to add a director recommended by activist investor Joseph Stilwell.

The once-distressed parent of First National Bank of Howell is on the road to recovery. For attorney Stanley Dickson, the comeback means more than a return on investment. It allowed him to save a bank that has been there for his family for over four generations.

Poage Bankshares in Kentucky disclosed that its chairman has died.

The overly complex Dodd-Frank Act came about because policymakers failed to tie regulation and regulatory structure together effectively. The next step in financial reform should be to simplify — and perhaps consolidate — regulatory processes.

Hudson Valley Holding in Yonkers, N.Y., has agreed to sell A.R. Schmeidler & Co., an investment adviser unit, to Pine Street Asset Management.

Pacific Continental in Eugene, Ore., has agreed to buy Capital Pacific Bancorp in Portland, Ore.