Activist investors continue to stir up community banking and M&A. ISS advised Hampden Bancorp shareholders to support an investor group that wants to push the thrift to sell itself, but Egan-Jones says the new CEO deserves more time.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is treading a fine line between protecting individuals from wrongdoing and acting as if it knows what's good for them. American Banker staffers discuss how behavioral economics is shaping its policy decisions.

Nearly half of the large banks surveyed said mortgage applications were either "moderately" or "substantially" lower, according to a Fed survey released Monday.

Banks should allow more time for less-stringent pricing models and video-teller ATMs to permeate the industry as consumers wean themselves from conventional, face-to-face interaction with tellers.

The CFPB has referred at least three auto lenders to the Justice Department for further investigation into possible fair lending violations, even as lawmakers continue to question the agency's authority.

The Treasury Department plans to auction seven more lenders' Troubled Asset Relief Program shares, with a total face value of about $90 million.

When it comes to saving, today's young Americans see themselves as more ant than grasshopper. That's the conclusion of a new survey from America Saves, a nonprofit that asked more than 1,000 Americans about their personal saving goals.

Consumer lending in September fell to its lowest point since early in the year, according to the latest American Banker Index of Banking Activity. Commercial lending provided a minor bright spot, but credit quality may be buckling amid intense competition.

Bank analyst David Hendler, known for his contrarian views on the industry, has left the research firm CreditSights and plans to start a risk-management consultancy.

National Bank Holdings Corp. (NBHC) in Greenwood Village, Colo., has bought back about $100 million worth of shares from an institutional investor.

Banesco USA in Coral Gables, Fla., reportedly received a $10 million investment from its shareholders during the third quarter.

The investment and corporate banking division of BMO Financial Group (BMO) has promoted senior economist Michael Gregory to deputy chief economist and head of U.S. economics.

No market should over-rely on one entity. But references in regulations and lending guidelines to the dominant credit score provider have created unintentional government brand endorsement and blocked new entrants.

Territorial Savings Bank in Honolulu plans to shed its federal charter and become a state-chartered savings bank.

Completed U.S. foreclosures dropped to 51,000 in September from 84,000 in September 2010, a 39% decrease that marks the biggest annual decline since the housing downturn began in 2007, according to data from CoreLogic.

Taylor Capital Group (TAYC) in Chicago is buying back its outstanding Troubled Asset Relief Program shares as it waits to close its sale to MB Financial (MBFI).

On the first day RoboCoin's Bitcoin ATM was deployed, one third of its users were new to the digital currency.

The fireworks over a Pew Charitable Trusts report on lump-sum payday loans continued Friday as Pew challenged criticisms of its survey methodology.

Half of banking and other business leaders expect a stronger economy, and 44% expect a stronger M&A market, in the next 12 months, according to a new survey. Regulation remains a concern, but dealmakers are largely ignoring the lingering problems in Washington, observers say.