CEOs of investment banks had huge stock gains in 2020 while heads of retail banks suffered paper losses; the digital currency has climbed another 10% so far in 2021, topping $34,000.

While delinquencies are down thanks to previous government support checks, bank lending is moribund; the two bankers helped the president get $330 million in loans that come due soon.

The application rate for new cards has fallen 10 points to just under 16%, the lowest level since 2013; small businesses that got loans last time would be eligible for a second helping, with limits.

The central bank said banks could withstand as much as $600 billion in pandemic-related loan losses; Fidelity National and Global Payments aborted talks about a $70 billion merge.

The Swiss charges follow several recent scandals at the bank; the filing by the largest cryptocurrency exchange follows by one day bitcoin climbing past a record $21,000.

The digital currency soared another 9% Wednesday, climbing past $21,000; the bank made the first move on the asset manager, won by Morgan Stanley, and eventually offered more money.

The eurozone’s conditions on resumed payouts are stricter than those announced by the Bank of England; the central bank has joined the international network on limiting climate change risks.

The already-struggling commercial property market may face even more problems in 2021; NatWest, joins Lloyds Bank in lowering down payments in a booming residential market.

The two midwest regionals agreed to merge in a $6 billion deal; community banks had their "best year ever," in large part from the "government money that passed through banks on the way to households and businesses."

The bank’s former president said he will give 1MDB clawback money to charities, not the bank; the country’s regulator said banks are resilient enough to resume limited dividends.