Congress must create mechanisms to dampen the volatility of housing finance, writes James Lockhart, the former regulator for Fannie and Freddie, on the fifth anniversary of their takeover by the government.

Aspire FCU call center staff can tell if they are having a good day by the looks on their faces-which they can see from the mirrors in each of their cubicles.

One credit union has found success using remote controlled drones to highlight branch locations and promote the credit union.

Wilshire Bancorp in Los Angeles said Monday that it had hired Jung Hak Son as its chief marketing officer, a position he took over in 2009.

DETROIT — NCUA said this afternoon the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services liquidated Craftsman CU and appointed the federal credit union agency as liquidating agent for the one-time $44 million auto workers credit union, the year's 12th failure.

California's legislature has voted to reform a money-transmission law that has come under fire for stymying payments innovation.

Independent Bank Corp. (INDB) and its commercial banking unit, Rockland Trust Co., announced a number of management changes Friday.

A bankruptcy judge's decision to lower breakup fees in the auction of Metropolitan National gives Simmons First and others a chance at unseating stalking horse Ford Financial. The results could encourage more interest in bidding for bank units of bankrupt holding companies.

Consumers are overdrawing their checking accounts an average of seven times per year, down from a peak of nearly 10 overdrafts annually four years ago.

The Federal Reserve System has taken regulatory action against Union City Corp. in El Reno, Okla., and released a Missouri holding company and its banking unit from a written agreement.

The Alabama company is staging a nice comeback from the financial crisis, though concerns still exist over litigation tied to a brokerage unit it sold last year.

Deposit balances have declined for two consecutive quarters, threatening a low-cost source of funding for many institutions. American Banker editors discuss the implications and how bankers are responding.

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.

Iberiabank Corp. (IBKC) in Layfayette, La., has agreed to buy Synovus Financial (SNV) operations in Memphis.

While 10.7 million residential homeowners nationwide owe at least 25% or more on their mortgages than their properties are worth, another 8.3 million homeowners are on track to have enough equity to sell sometime in the next 15 months, according to a new report.

F.N.B. Corp. (FNB) in Pittsburgh has launched the first fund from its new small-business investment company.

Standard Financial (STND) in Monroeville, Pa., plans to delist from the Nasdaq and cease reporting with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

HomeStreet (HMST) in Seattle has expanded its mortgage business in the Golden State, opening six offices in Northern and Central California.

Recent acquisitions by MB Financial and PacWest illustrate how deals can add value. M&A is returning as a valid alternative for implementing strategy that will reshape the industry.

Arvest Bank of Fayetteville, Ark., has bought the naming rights to a historic theater in downtown Kansas City four years after entering the market.