Consumer lending

The upstart lenders have been chipping away at credit cards’ consumer-lending dominance by offering fixed-rate loans with predictable repayment plans. Now the card giants are fighting back.

Until now, Toyota Financial Services has offered banking services to its dealers. But as it builds its digital bank, that will soon change, according to its newly appointed chief information officer.

Events like the recent government shutdown present opportunities for banks to help customers when they need it most.

Recent history shows how dangerous these short-term products can be without appropriate guidelines in place.

Readers consider Square's bid to become an industrial loan company, weigh the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.'s oversight of brokered deposits and debate reforms to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

In the face of tough questioning from House members, CFPB Director Kathy Kraninger appeared mostly unfazed and tried to strike a balance between heeding concerns about the agency’s power and supporting its mission to help consumers.

The legislation comes a day before CFPB Director Kathy Kraninger is set to testify to Congress.

Under the recently appointed Director Kathy Kraninger, the bureau has the opportunity to address numerous problems with its collection and presentation of consumer grievances.

The industry cheered the bureau’s proposed repeal of its ability-to-repay requirement, but another part of the rule — on account debit restrictions — was left intact, and some companies aren’t ready to comply.

The Atlanta company, which reported fourth-quarter results Tuesday, said that the lending partnership with American Express will launch in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles and Dallas within the next 60 days.

Senate Democrats are pushing the CFPB to resume examinations under the Military Lending Act, according to a letter sent to the agency's director on Tuesday.

U.S. credit card debt hit $870 billion — the largest amount ever — as of Dec. 31, according to data from the Federal Reserve. Credit card balances rose by $26 billion from the prior quarter.

The industry cheered the bureau’s proposed repeal of its ability-to-repay requirement, but another part of the rule — on account debit restrictions — was left intact, and some companies aren’t ready to comply.

Add the Alabama company to the list of lenders that are disappointed in the returns on loans made through car dealers and their inability to build broader relationships with those borrowers.

On Sep. 30, 2018. Dollars in thousands.

On Sep. 30, 2018. Dollars in thousands.

Events like the recent government shutdown present opportunities for banks to help customers when they need it most.

Credit unions haven't dipped into subprime lending as much as other lenders, which has helped protect the industry – but there could still be major speed bumps ahead.

The latest Credit Union Trends Report from CUNA Mutual Group shows strong performance in membership growth and delinquencies, but lending is beginning to slow and could slow further by next year.

JPMorgan's Dimon: Square innovated where we should have; this company simplifies bank switching (and banks pay for it); BB&T-SunTrust deal has Atlanta banks licking their chops; and more from this week's most-read stories.