Interest rates

Banks' lowering of origination fees and loosening of underwriting standards often foreshadow a downturn.

An intraparty rift went public Wednesday over legislation that would impose a 36% rate limit on all consumer loans. Critics are concerned it would cut off minority borrowers’ access to small-dollar loans and hurt some community banks.

The move by the European bank regulator is a policy shift as profitability at the region's banks continues to suffer from negative rates; the German bank paid $1.1 million to win business from a senior Saudi royal.

The president tapped the pair in July for the two remaining vacancies, but the formal announcement of his intention to nominate them didn’t come until this week.

Brian Moynihan said banks must be mindful of pricing and risk as they contend with lower yields on loans and securities.

While his focus is on organic growth in Texas and California, Curt Farmer says he would consider a deal in those states if the right one comes along.

Regulators' oversight of the industry's switch to a new interest rate benchmark is expected to intensify as a key deadline approaches.

The shift away from LIBOR won't take place until at least 2021, but there are steps credit unions can take to prepare now.

The state has proposed a law to cap the interest rate on certain consumer loans, but nonbanks aim to skirt it by seeking a rent-a-charter.

Many large lenders pointed regulatory restrictions on their balance sheets and reduced risk appetite to explain why they stood on the sidelines during the September spike in overnight funding rates, according to a Federal Reserve survey of senior credit officers.

The Department of Business Oversight said TitleMax charged consumers fees to push loan amounts above the threshold at which the state's rate cap applies.

John Williams said Friday that the Federal Reserve's three interest rate cuts this year have bolstered the housing market and consumer spending.

Moderates on the Financial Services Committee are attempting to block legislation that would extend the 36% interest rate cap on loans to military personnel to all consumers.

Federal and state policymakers wagged their fingers this week at high-cost lenders that might be looking to team with banks to evade a 36% ceiling on interest rates.

Christopher Maher, who has announced seven bank deals since 2015, says a stable rate outlook will help buyers and sellers crunch merger numbers.

Negative benchmark interest rates are becoming commonplace in Europe and Japan. Here’s what US credit unions need to know in case that happens here.

David Becker, who founded First Internet Bank two decades ago, says traditional banks' digital-only ventures are only making his bank look more mainstream.

In the Fed's quest to bring inflation back to its 2% target, Gov. Brainard recommended pursuing a policy she called “flexible inflation averaging.”

Banks need to manage margins more actively — including the use of new modeling technology — in the current low-interest-rate environment.

Bank of America Chief Executive Officer Brian Moynihan said the U.S. has no need for negative interest rates because its economy is strong, unlike other regions that have employed the tricky strategy.