Stress tests

The regulators have yet to complete rules on regional bank supervision, community bank capital and other provisions meant to ease institutions' burden.

Among other things, the letter asked the regulators to ease requirements for a new community bank leverage ratio and analyze the impact of the pending CECL accounting change.

The U.S. lacks mechanisms authorized in other countries to flag nonbank risks, Eric Rosengren says.

Powell sees need to "keep firms on their toes" while Quarles wants easier tests; €52 million paid to leaving execs nears total paid to board.

Questioning whether core-banking technology is nearing a 'big shake-up'; Capital One keeps closing branches, even as rivals open them; FASB chair defends CECL, saying 'the benefits justify the cost'; and more from this week's most-read stories.

Some large banks, including Bank of America and JPMorgan Chase, will increase dividends and stock repurchases by double digits.

Banks clear both rounds of stress tests (though two of them needed a do-over); BNY Mellon goes all-in on digital; bank industry struggles to stop slide in latest reputation survey; and more from this week's most-read stories.

In a downturn, some fintechs, such as independent lenders, will be more vulnerable to economic forces than those working to service banks' regulatory needs.

The results clear the way for bigger dividends and stock buybacks at big banks; State Street agreed to pay $88 million to settle claims it overcharged clients.

In a year where most of the 18 institutions taking the second round of the Federal Reserve's stress tests showed improvements over last year, JPMorgan Chase and Capital One were both forced to adjust their capital plans in order to meet the central bank's minimum thresholds.