Law and regulation

New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman was removed from a leadership role in negotiating a nationwide foreclosure settlement with U.S. banks because his office "actively worked to undermine" the effort, a state official said.

P.D. Recovery, a now-defunct collection agency, and Internet payday lender Government Employees Credit Center reached a settlement with West Virginia Attorney General Darrell McGraw's office.

Underlyling the FDIC's relatively positive quarterly report is a story of risk aversion by banks. Earnings can't be sustained at this rate, regulators warn.

Most banking agencies kept running on Tuesday after a 5.8 magnitude earthquake rattled Washington, but let some employees go home. There were no immediate reports of damage to any of the buildings.

The FDIC charged executives of the failed Silverton Bank with squandering millions on planes, posh digs, and island retreats.

It is now close to three weeks since Standard & Poor's lowered its rating on U.S. debt from AAA to AA+ and we now have had sufficient time to evaluate both the downgrade and the aftermath.

Debt Relief USA Inc. has agreed to settle charges brought by the Federal Trade Commission that it lured consumers into paying thousands of dollars in upfront fees to reduce their credit card debt - but in many bases left them deeper in debt.

After months of wrangling, the Federal Reserve Board’s decision to cap debit card interchange rates may have seemed like the final word. The reality, however, appears more complex.

Bank of America Corp. has agreed to pay $5 million to settle a dispute with San Francisco’s city attorney over the card issuer’s former use of the National Arbitration Forum to settle cardholder disputes, the two sides announced Aug. 23.

A federal judge says the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. can't dodge a $10 billion lawsuit over the toxic remnants of Washington Mutual Bank.

CoBiz Financial Inc. said Monday that it was initially approved for as much as $57.4 million from the Small Business Lending Fund program — the second highest amount approved to date.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.'s "Quarterly Banking Profile" showed many positive signs for the industry. Net income was nearly 38% higher than a year earlier, registering the eighth straight quarter with year-over-year earnings growth. Total loans rose 0.9% in the quarter to $7.3 trillion, the first such increase in three years.

Miami-based Ocean Bank faces a nearly $11 million fine to settle charges it turned a blind eye to drug traffickers allegedly using the bank to launder money.

Central bank proposes two-year phase-in period for thrift holding companies to start new reporting requirements.

When the final chapter on this housing crisis is written, I hope that I am still around to see those who were responsible for its cause and the feeble attempts to fix it held responsible.

The agency's Quarterly Banking Profile will report bank and thrift earnings for the second quarter. In May, the agency said institutions had earned $29 billion in the first quarter, and net income had grown on a year-over-year basis for seven straight quarters.

Most 'ex parte' communications with the regulator will be part of the public domain.

Stein and Clarida have let their opinions be known on issues ranging from capital rules to Fed efforts to boost the economy.

Years may pass before some merchants realize any savings from the debit card interchange-fee cap mandated by the Durbin amendment to the Dodd-Frank Act.

Mutual holding companies now must explain why they want to waive dividends from their thrifts. Observers fear the rule could repel prospective investors.