CFPB to scrap key underwriting portion of payday rule; Fiserv-First Data — why small banks fear big fintech; banks, credit unions help federal workers hurt by shutdown; and more from this week's most-read stories.

Citi is the first to share its unadjusted pay gap and lays out its goals for improvement. Bankers will be getting to know the progressive female freshmen who are storming D.C. a lot better. Plus, lots of fintech people moves and Gillette's take on toxic masculinity.

Executives at Key pushed back against doubts over a deal for Laurel Road Bank’s digital lending platform so late in the credit cycle, arguing that its customers are prime borrowers with high incomes.

The online platform, created by Laurel Road Bank in 2013, allows users to refinance student loans and originate mortgages.

The Fiserv-First Data deal, valued at about $22 billion, will combine two of the financial services industry's largest technology and processing companies.

The large core banking software vendors are already criticized as large and slow-moving. Consolidations like these are only likely to make them more so.

The large core banking software vendors are already criticized as large and slow-moving. Consolidations like these are only likely to make them more so.

The numbers behind Fiserv's deal to acquire First Data are huge, particularly considering each company's existing tonnage still makes consolidation the best play when faced with nimble fintechs and mobile startups.

Fiserv will acquire First Data in an all-stock deal with a value of about $22 billion that will combine two of the financial services industry's largest technology and processing companies.

The Financial Solutions Lab, a joint initiative, has announced the winners of its annual competition to identify solutions to consumer financial challenges, this year focusing on startups dedicated to improving financial health in the workplace.