BankThink

Putting faith in its team of experts analyzing every loan application, the Arkansas bank is shrugging off warnings of a real estate downturn.

While bank executives are divided on what they view as an optimal outcome for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, there is broad agreement that a future without them (or some government-supported equivalent) would mean tighter credit, higher rates and lower volume.

Yes, the credit bureau goofed badly on data security, and it proved to be worse at crisis management. But other companies have been just as sloppy with cyber defenses, and business and government leaders should have tackled these problems long before now.

House Democrats are lobbying for a bill to reform the way banks charge overdraft fees, but recognizing that Republicans are unlikely to take up the legislation, they are hoping the CFPB can act on its own.

The blending of two banks' operations is a "very unsettled time" for employees, says Russ Colombo, CEO of Bank of Marin. Moving as quickly as possible can help ease their pain.