Law and regulation

Since taking her Senate seat more than 10 months ago, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., has continued her intense criticism of big banks. But she has also focused on other areas in the financial services realm, covering everything from housing finance reform to student loan debt. Following is a guide to the Massachusetts Democrat's biggest banking issues.

WASHINGTON — Regulators on Friday announced they had finalized guidelines proposed in March that attempt to encourage banks' community development activities beyond their immediate markets.

Republic Mortgage Insurance Corp. has agreed to pay a $100,000 penalty and stop providing allegedly illegal kickbacks to mortgage lenders as part of a proposed settlement with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

WASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve Board on Friday approved Ally Financial Inc.'s revised capital plan after objecting to it earlier this year.

A recap of the informed opinions (and the discussions they generated) this week.

When faced with the need to conduct an internal investigations, bankers will do themselves a favor by pursuing them with the vigor. Otherwise, neither company directors or outside regulators are likely to buy the line that a bank is serious about addressing its flaws, says Neil Barofsky, an attorney who previously served as a prosecutor and inspector general for the Troubled Asset Relief Program.

In a report released Thursday, the Government Accountability Office urged the Federal Reserve Board and other regulators to finalize key provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act that are designed to decrease government support to big banks and improve bank oversight going forward.

The central bank is making clear it has doubts about the private sector's ability to implement a faster electronic payments system on its own.

Bill Ackman's hedge fund-firm took stakes in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the government-backed mortgage insurers that investor Bruce Berkowitz is seeking to restructure, and said it may seek talks with management, shareholders and the government.

Moody's downgraded the ratings of Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase and Bank of New York Mellon by one notch on Thursday.

The central bank is making clear it has doubts about the private sector's ability to implement a faster electronic payments system on its own.

Despite a banner year for bank reform, prospective Fed chairman Janet Yellen would have to ensure Basel’s implementation, strengthen Dodd-Frank's living will requirements and form closer ties with regulators to ensure safety and soundness of our banking system.

Moody's downgraded the ratings of Morgan Stanley (MS), Goldman Sachs (GS), JPMorgan Chase (JPM) and Bank of New York Mellon (BK) Thursday.

The House Financial Services Committee passed several bills on Thursday, including regulatory relief legislation for community banks and credit unions.

Financial regulators acknowledged Thursday that the data they use to determine fair lending violations in certain cases could be improved, but said they would not stop using such information.

An out-of-court settlement in Mount Holly, N.J., means that the court will not weigh in on whether the controversial legal theory can be used in fair-lending cases.

Raj Date, the former deputy director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, appears to be a Bitcoin believer.

The Government Accountability Office is the first of two highly-anticipated reports that details the benefits the largest banks receive from being considered "too big to fail."

Fed Vice Chair Janet Yellen touched on a variety of regulatory issues during her lengthy confirmation hearing, including the Volcker Rule, efforts by regulators to be more transparent, and how to supervise systemically important nonbank firms.

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has lifted an Oct. 2010 consent order against Santa Clara Valley Bank in Santa Paula, Calif.