Two companies have settled charges that they used prerecorded calls to trick consumers into deceptive credit card interest rate reduction scams.

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

More than 770,000 U.S. homes were in foreclosure at the close of the second quarter ended June 30, according to the latest data provided by RealtyTrac.

Old National is trying to shed assets ahead of an acquisition in hopes of staying below $10 billion in assets, a level that ensures increased regulation.

Economic shifts are driving community banks back into the mortgage-purchase market, but the very same forces are squelching demand. So small banks will have to start buying established mortgage originators — if PE firms don't buy the same targets first.

Disney World's efforts to test its payments wristband involve patience, investment in technology and a lot of marketing. PaymentsSource editor Daniel Wolfe recently visited the amusement park and has some lessons for banks and other payments companies that want to succeed in similar innovation.

An Indiana man was sentenced to spend five years in federal prison and pay almost $7 million in restitution Thursday after pleading guilty to defrauding local banks of over $10 million.

Zions Bancorp. in Salt Lake City has raised $87.9 million in a sale of subordinated notes.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. has lifted a consent order with Seattle Bank, which recently added $10 million of capital.

Baker Boyer Bank in Walla Walla, Wash., has promoted its wealth management division manager to become president and chief investment officer.

American Banker readers share their views on the most pressing banking topics of the week. As excerpted from the comments sections of AmericanBanker.com articles.

Chemical Financial (CHFC) in Midland, Mich., could raise up to $57.5 million through its recently announced stock offering, according to pricing information released Friday.

Midland States Bancorp in Effingham, Ill., has agreed to buy Heartland Bank in St. Louis from Love Savings Holding Co.

Midland States Bank in Effingham, Ill., is reportedly close to buying Heartland Bank in St. Louis.

WASHINGTON — The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau warned banks and other companies that it will pursue action against any employer that forces employees to deposit wages into a payroll card account.

An antitrust complaint against Visa and MasterCard will continue, prolonging the eight-year battle, after both proponents and defendants were heard during the fairness hearing Sept. 12.

Umpqua Holdings' agreement to buy Sterling Financial is the latest in a series of deals this year to pair similarly sized banks, creating a new crop of midsize financial institutions.

Lawmakers blasted the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on Thursday, claiming it had failed to respond to their questions about its data gathering activities.

The $3.6 billion-asset Simmons First said Thursday that it plans to pay $53.6 million in cash for the Little Rock, Ark., bank.

Three years after constructing a database aimed at standardizing the home appraisal process, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are still finding serious discrepancies in many appraisals submitted by mortgage lenders.