Law and regulation

Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt says his 49 counterparts exceeded their authority by pushing for principal reductions. So he’s entered into a separate settlement in which banks would pay $18.6 million.

The House version of the STOCK Act does not require political intelligence firms to register as lobbyists. Now Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid must decide whether to fight for the provision.

The $25 billion 'robo-signing' settlement with five major servicing banks announced Thursday morning could yield nearly $35 billion in principal reductions, according to Housing and Urban Development secretary Shaun Donovan.

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama praised the "landmark" $25 billion settlement between federal and state authorities and the top five mortgage servicers, saying it would "begin to turn the page on an era of recklessness that has left so much damage in its wake."

Banks have been successful at beating back legal challenges to credit card payment protection plans. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau could change that.

WASHINGTON – Following on the announcement of a $25 billion settlement between state and federal agencies with the top five mortgage servicers, the Federal Reserve Board announced it was levying a $776.5 million fine against the firms' parent companies for failing to properly oversee their subsidiaries.

State and federal authorities held a press conference to announce a $25 billion settlement with the five largest mortgage servicers, and provided key details on how the money was being distributed and the amounts each institution is expected to pay.

The Pulse electronic funds transfer network has launched a Debit Regulations Resource Center that will provide information on debit-related legislation, regulations and compliance matters, the Discover Financial Services unit announced Feb. 9.

Freddie Mac's CEO responds to the NPR-ProPublica report that his company "bet against" homeowners.

After months of wrangling, California and New York's attorneys general have joined a settlement with the top five mortgage servicers. Final details of the plan are scheduled to be released this morning.

After months of wrangling, California's attorney general is expected to join a settlement with the top five mortgage servicers, and New York may soon follow.

The Obama administration rolled out details of a new plan to help millions of homeowners refinance. For banks, the big question is how much of the tab they'll be required to pick up.

Regulators have ordered the banking unit of AB&T Financial Corp. in Gastonia, N.C., to improve its asset quality and evaluate its allowance for loan losses.

Two leading Democrats raises doubts over acting Acting Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Ed DeMarco's refusal to allow principal reductions for loans backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

The simmering battle between banks and credit unions is heating up again, as credit unions revive their push in Congress to allow their industry to make more small business loans.

Capital One Financial Corp.'s agreement to buy ING Direct USA is on track to close this quarter even though the Federal Reserve Board delayed consideration Wednesday, Chairman and Chief Executive Richard Fairbank said.

Credit unions are an aggressive bunch. As if their heavy-handed push to expand into prohibited business lending wasn't enough, it now seems they are adding on another power grab to increase their ability to raise supplemental capital and support investors.

Failure has been the most common way out of enforcement actions in the current cycle, but outcomes may be improving.

Two months after stepping down as Minnesota's top banking regulator, Kevin Murphy has found a new job.

Rather than try to make money market funds safer, David Merkel essentially wants everyone to recognize and admit and deal with the reality that they aren’t safe.