Law and regulation

Today, the global financial reform agenda is increasingly targeted toward reducing the size, scope and systemic risk posed by large institutions. However, it appears to be the consensus that breaking them up is either politically or economically unwise.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau said Monday that it plans to notify banks or individuals that are under investigation for potential violations of consumer financial laws, to give them a chance to respond to the allegations before it takes legal action.

Richard Fredricks, a bank examiner at the FDIC in Nebraska, used his time at an ABA conference to encourage executives at farm bank to remain vigilant policing loans and to learn from the experiences of commercial lenders.

The central bank's senior officer loan survey shows that while U.S. banks have made loans to European banks or their affiliates, their exposure appears relatively low.

The Supreme Court said Monday it will take up a case to decide whether an individual may allege discrimination under the Fair Housing Act based solely on the impact of a policy, rather than the intent.

A collection of distinct industry associations claim to speak for large banks on policy issues, in addition to each bank's individual efforts. But could a more focused effort help their message?

LAS VEGAS–It may be too early to tally the numbers from new, lower debit-interchange rates that took effect Oct. 1, but three of the nation’s largest merchants already are sending signals that the new debit-pricing structure is unlikely to boost their bottom lines.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. has balked at extending the termination date for a three-way deal at the heart of Washington Mutual Inc.'s Chapter 11 plan, company attorney Brian Rosen said Monday.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on Monday announced that it will give a financial firm a heads-up when it finds that the company has violated consumer protection laws.

Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc. may be on the cusp of getting Federal Reserve oversight under a proposal by regulators that also increases the chances that American International Group Inc. and MetLife Inc. will receive heightened scrutiny.

The Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday defended its proposed $285 million settlement of fraud charges against Citigroup Inc. over a mortgage-bond deal.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. plays a far more active role in the last days of banks than it cares to let on, explains Washington correspondent Joe Adler.

Banking and payments executives try desperately to figure out where their debit card strategies all went wrong – and what, if anything, they can do next – at an industry conference.

We've already seen Occupy Foreclosures. How about Occupy The Wall Street Journal, Occupy Fox News or Occupy PBS?

A Utah bank linked to an alleged Internet payment scam and an online gambling case was seized by the state late Friday, on a night when regulators also closed a bank in Nebraska.

Washington insiders were momentarily shocked last week when it appeared that President Obama had withdrawn his nomination of former Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City Chief Thomas Hoenig for vice chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.

Sen. David Vitter, who sits on the Senate Banking Committee, sent out a press release condemning executives at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac for paying $12.79 billion in bonuses. There was just one problem: the actual number was $12.79 million, not billion.

William (Bill) Matthews and Tim Doyle receive promotions at the Conference of State Bank Supervisors

Mark Carney's appointment as chairman of the Financial Stability Board drew praise from Sheryl Kennedy, managing director of the consulting firm Promontory Canada, whose earlier work at the Bank of Canada overlapped with Carney's tenure there.

Lower borrowing costs under the government’s refinancing program for underwater homeowners mean lower interest payments for investors, and banks are the biggest holders of agency mortgage bonds.