Policymaking

The announcement Tuesday by Sen. Orrin Hatch that he will retire at the end of the year could have a ripple effect throughout the Senate, including the leadership of the Banking Committee.

The banks announced bonuses, wage hikes and charitable contributions resulting from the lower corporate tax rate enacted by Congress.

Finding a perfect candidate could be tricky. Because the New York Fed oversees banks and operates in markets, someone with Wall Street experience is ideal — yet at the same time, it’s important to find a candidate who isn’t beholden to the banks. Some advisers are pushing for a woman or a minority to be appointed.

From the identity of bankers in the 21st century to the regulatory turmoil in Washington to the huge impact of technology on the industry, readers expressed an array of strong opinions about what happened in 2017.

The credit bureau enraged many with its response to a massive data breach this fall, but closing the company down would ultimately harm consumers.

HUD Secretary Ben Carson has spent much of his first year trying to convince lenders they wouldn't be harshly penalized if FHA-guaranteed loans went bad. But he still has a ways to go.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and four other Democrats on the Senate Banking Committee are insisting on a recorded vote by the full Senate for the nomination of Brian Montgomery as Federal Housing Administration commissioner.

The legislation and public perceptions of it are expected to play a major role in 2018 elections that will determine whether Republicans retain control of Congress.

Companies like Visa and Mastercard make decisions about security in secrecy, without enough input from banks and merchants.

Readers sound off on Mick Mulvaney’s plan to hire political appointees at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, question what’s behind the failure of Washington Federal Bank for Savings in Chicago, react to an argument that Equifax must endure, and more.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau said Thursday that it plans to reopen its rulemaking for the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act and will not assess penalties against mortgage lenders for any errors in data collected in 2018.

Earlier versions of the bill would have caused bigger changes in how Americans finance home purchases, higher education and retirement. Still, the final legislation will have important effects on borrowing and saving decisions.

The economy is ripe for another downturn in the months or years to come, and banks shouldn’t be lulled into a false sense of security.

The credit bureau enraged many with its response to a massive data breach this fall, but closing the company down would ultimately harm consumers.

Top officials at the Internal Revenue Service met with mortgage industry groups this week to discuss possible fixes to the agency’s verification system, which lenders rely on to process mortgage loans.

The House vote moved a sharp reduction in the corporate tax rate for banks and other businesses to within a few steps of becoming law.

The Trump administration has previously signaled that it wants to bring the Office of Financial Research under its control. Now it may have the opportunity to do so.

With tax reform close to the finish line, bankers are still clear winners from the compromise worked out between House and Senate negotiators. But the bill includes some caveats that might give institutions pause.

A House bill would deregulate both domestic and foreign banks that control trillions of dollars of combined assets, reducing financial stability and tying the hands of regulators to reapply heightened standards in the future.

The two Democratic lawmakers sent a letter Monday to the four largest servicing companies asking them to address borrower complaints.