Law and regulation

Although creditors could lose money in FDIC wind-downs of large firms authorized by the Dodd-Frank Act, many of them may own a piece of the startup that emerges from the failed company's ashes.

The National Retail Federation said it will try to block a settlement of as much as $7.25 billion with Visa and MasterCard over the fees they charge shops when customers pay with credit cards.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency said Tuesday that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are pursuing a new representation and warranties model for conventional loans to help minimize risk exposure for lenders.

The FDIC can invest in the equity of teetering but salvageable banks. This would save money for the taxpayers, preserve banks that are worth preserving – and send a clear message about the future of community banking.

CashCall Inc., a California-based collection agency, owned by the former owner of this year's Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner, has been penalized $13 million.

While the Republicans hardly mentioned Wall Street reform at their convention, it was practically center stage for the Democrats. Everyone from President Obama to President Clinton remarked on it, while Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Barney Frank discussed it in more detail during their addresses to the entire convention. Here are the highlights:

We've heard plenty about big banks, and a lot about the small banks, but what about the impact of regulation on those that are somewhere inbetween?

The courts' indecision as to whether whistle-blowers who report wrongdoing internally are protected by Dodd-Frank sends one clear message: Come forward at your own risk.

The Institute of International Bankers backed an initiative by Rep. Spencer Bachus, chairman of the House Financial Services, to consider other legislative alternatives to the "Volcker Rule."

Edward DeMarco, acting director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, said Monday the agency will unveil a new representation and warranties model for conventional loans to help minimize risk exposure to lenders.

The standard definition of SIFIs is essentially useless. What was intended to be a limited Congressional power has expanded into a blank check to act in any case where there is an aggregate effect on economic activity.

WASHINGTON — The Federal Home Loan Bank of Seattle is treading back into safer waters, after a near shutdown a few years earlier, the Federal Housing Finance Agency said Monday.

In bailing out the financial sector, government officials pandered to big banks, dismissed warnings about taxpayer ripped-offs and misled the public about its intentions. So says the former Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program.

Senate Democrats tried Monday to revive a mortgage refinancing bill, reintroducing a slimmed-down version of the measure in the hope of wooing Republicans.

Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner was among 5,000 entrants that participated in the Nation's Triathlon on Sunday, including a 1500-meter swim, 40K bike ride and 10K run.

Agency is reviewing exam and rule-writing policies to explore ways to make regulation more efficient for community banks.

Starting Oct. 1, issuers with effective fraud reduction strategies will be eligible to make more money off debit card transactions. To reap the benefits of the Fed's new rule, banks will need to work together.

Lacking the authority to control fellow regulators' data operations, the Office of Financial Research may still play an important risk management role — but only by getting along with other agencies.

The recent party events in Tampa and Charlotte illustrate just how much relations between bankers and politicians have changed over the past few years.

Increasingly burdensome requirements, such as small business panels and cost-benefit analysis, inhibit writing of new regulations. But substituting enforcement actions that unevenly apply vague or unwritten rules betrays the regulatory mandate.