Rigorous capital standards have helped U.S. banks nearly recover from the financial crisis as many of their European counterparts continue to flail, according to a new study from the Boston Consulting Group.

JPMorgan Chase has resolved the last obstacles to a record $13 billion settlement of civil state and U.S. probes over the sale of mortgage bonds, clearing the way for a deal today after months of negotiations, two people briefed on the matter said.

JPMorgan Chase agreed to drop litigation against the FDIC over some mortgage bonds sold by Washington Mutual Inc., clearing the way for a $9 billion accord with state and federal officials, a person briefed on the matter said.

The swelling trillion-dollar student loan market is missing key data and regulations necessary to head off another financial crisis, according to Rohit Chopra, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's top official in charge of dealing with student loans.

Republic Bancorp (RBCAA) in Louisville, Ky., is planning to shut down its only Minneapolis branch just 14 months after entering the market.

Democratic lawmakers on Monday urged regulators to keep their promise to release a report by the end of the year that details an independent review of millions of borrowers who faced foreclosure.

A jarring anecdote about police threatening foreclosed borrowers seemed an odd choice in a speech by PNC Chairman James Rohr, who was urging banks to better manage their reputational risk.

As a fast, low-cost payment system, Bitcoin provides healthy competition for legacy banks. It's also a bulwark for financial privacy and freedom of speech.

James Gardner, who co-founded investment firm Commerce Street Holdings in Dallas, died last week from congestive heart failure.

First Financial Service in Kentucky and State Employees' Credit Union in North Carolina believes their products are responsible and avoid taking advantage of borrowers. But they are concerned that the CFPB could pressure them to end their programs.

The DBA International Certification Council announced the approval of several firms to perform independent third-party audits as part of DBA International’s Debt Buyer Certification Program.

ESSA Bancorp (ESSA) in Stroudsburg, Pa., has agreed to buy Franklin Security Bancorp in nearby Wilkes-Barre.

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency issued cease-and-desist orders against three banks in October and released seven banks from enforcement actions.

The Department of Justice and Securities and Exchange Commission are telling a U.S. Senate committee that Bitcoins are legitimate financial instruments, boosting prospects for wider acceptance of the virtual currency.

The former chairman and chief executive of the failed Summit Bank in Burlington, Wash., has been sentenced to three years in prison for concealing millions of dollars in past-due loans.

Discover Financial Services said it will provide FICO scores to customers on their monthly bill at no cost.

Pacific Premier Bancorp (PPBI) in Irvine, Calif., has agreed to acquire chain-restaurant lender Infinity Franchise Capital.

A detailed look at how the freshman senator from Massachusetts has used her first 10 months in office, including her own insights from an interview with American Banker.

JPMorgan Chase (JPM) has agreed to pay a group of financial services companies $4.5 billion to settle mortgage-repurchase and servicing claims.

The pairing of Rockville Financial in Connecticut and United Financial in Massachusetts would create a $5 billion-asset bank that can get more efficient yet invest in growth. More deals like it have been happening around the country this year.