Law and regulation

Michael Williams, the president and chief executive officer of Fannie Mae, announced plans to step down as soon as a successor can be appointed, according to a company filing issued Tuesday to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The Securities and Exchange Commission wants banks and other financial institutions to provide more detail about their exposure to European sovereign debt so that investors would have a clearer picture of the firms' overall health.

Lawmakers show deep interest in staying involved with 'Volcker Rule' during the implementation phase, and regulators may actually be grateful.

PHH, the nation's largest private mortgage company, has been notified by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau that it is the subject of an investigation into potentially improper reinsurance payments.

Peggy Twohig, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's associate director for nonbank supervision, canceled her appearance at a bank lawyers' conference "at the last minute," the conference organizers said Tuesday.

Lawyers involved in the big banks' robo-signing practices are finding themselves increasingly targeted by angry homeowners, who are filing complaints with state bar associations.

Republican Jon Huntsman is putting a conservative imprint on the idea of breaking up the largest banks.

Washington reporter Kate Davidson explains how the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's nonbank supervisor, Peggy Twohig, plans to oversee a large swath of the financial sector.

Nearing a deal with five large mortgage servicers to settle allegations of misconduct relating to foreclosures, the Justice Department is now asking other banks that could face charges of their own if they would like to get in on the settlement.

Five community banks, including one in Boston that is a designated community development lender, have received "needs to improve" ratings on their most recent Community Reinvestment Act examinations.

PARK CITY, UTAH¬–Banks are asking for more data from card networks as they attempt to comply with new regulations capping debit card interchange fees.

Peapack-Gladstone Financial Corp. in Bedminster, N.J., announced Monday that it will exit the Troubled Asset Relief Program this week.

Banks are asking for more data from card networks as they attempt to comply with new regulations capping debit card interchange fees, a Capital One executive said.

President Obama on Monday announced the departure of William Daley as White House chief of staff by the end of the month.

Attorneys and consumer advocates gathered at the American Bar Association's winter meeting of consumer financial services attorneys raised various concerns about the CFPB and the impact it will have on federal preemption of state regulations of the bank and mortgage industries.

Over the weekend, international regulators said firms could fall below minimum liquidity requirements in times of stress. But according to the Fed's latest proposal, that may not be the case for U.S. banks.

The affordable housing goals at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have become a favorite punching bag for Republican presidential candidates. But as a senator, Rick Santorum pushed to strengthen those goals.

In the months before Bank of America Corp. acquired Countrywide Financial Corp., government officials exchanged emails discussing the beleaguered mortgage lender and rumors that it might collapse.

Robert Braswell, Georgia's banking commissioner, has learned a lot after seeing 74 banks fail in his state since 2008. He remains cautious about 2012 as his team emphasizes more risk control and corporate governance at the banks that remain.

Pennsylvania's Attorney General's Office renewed its lawsuit against defunct collection agency Unicredit America Inc. and now hopes to hold former company president Michael J. Covatto and former vice president Anthony D. Covatto personally liable for violations of consumer protection laws.