BankThink

Why Digital Currency Crackdowns Benefit Banks

09/03/15

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network's enforcement action against Ripple Labs sent a clear message to the cryptocurrency industry about regulators' high expectations for compliance. Such actions will help clear the way for banks to partner with blockchain technology firms down the line.

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Morning Scan: Rocky Transition to Chip Cards; Secrets of Saving

09/03/15

Receiving Wide Coverage ...

Moynihan Under the Microscope: The drumbeat to force Bank of America chief executive Brian Moynihan to give up his additional role as chairman keeps getting louder. The Financial Times reports proxy adviser Glass Lewis is recommending shareholders vote against the board's decision to combine the chairman and CEO role. Major B of A investors including Norges Bank Investment Management and two public pension funds have also come out against the merged roles....

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Small Banks Need Better Strategies for Survival

09/02/15

Industry conferences that feature advice tailored to the concerns of Citigroup and JPMorgan Chase don't do community bankers a whole lot of good.

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Bank Data on Diversity Can Help Close Racial Wealth Gap

09/02/15

Minorities receive surprisingly few small-business loans, high-level employment promotions and business contract opportunities. The federal government can help remedy the situation by collected detailed data on these matters from financial institutions.

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Morning Scan: Volcker Rule Puts Leash on Banks; FHA's Peace Offering

09/02/15

Wall Street Journal

Recent stock market swings provided a chance to see the Volcker rule in action. The paper reports big banks made only a small portion of trades for themselves amidst the market volatility of the last two weeks, instead focusing on making bets on behalf of their clients. This is in keeping with the design of the Volcker rule, which aims to preserve the safety and soundness of the financial system by restricting banks'...

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How the Fed Failed the U.S. on Swipe Fees

09/01/15

A new study by the Richmond Fed confirms that swipe fees have only gone down for a small fraction of merchants, contrary to congressional intent. This finding should spur the central bank to limit price-fixing to a reasonable level.

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Why the Best Bankers Don't Fear Rejection

09/01/15

The most productive and successful salespeople hear some version of Â"No thanks, IÂ'm goodÂ" more than anyone else. This kind of daily rejection is just confirmation that they're doing their jobs correctly.

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Morning Scan: Blythe Masters' Second Act; Should BofA Split CEO-Chair Role?

09/01/15

Receiving Wide Coverage ...

Back in Action: Bank of New York Mellon staffers could probably use a nap right about now. The Wall Street Journal reports employees worked through the night to update pricing on mutual and exchange-traded funds, putting an end to the problems that began with a software glitch at the bank's vendor SunGard a week ago. The fund valuations at 46 companies were thrown off by a software update gone awry, according to...

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Branding Lessons Courtesy of Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders

08/31/15

ItÂ's time for the mortgage industry to take a lesson from the presidential hopefuls who have gained an upper hand by playing up their individual brands.

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Morning Scan: Presidential Candidates Split on Wall St.; Banking Barney Frank

08/31/15

Receiving Wide Coverage ... Interest Rate Outlook: The Wall Street Journal suggests the Fed is likely to stick to the plan to raise rates before the end of the year, based on discussions at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City's annual policy retreat in Jackson Hole, Wyo. Market volatility and economic troubles in China aside, the paper says, a majority of Fed officials think the U.S. is largely on track for a quarter-percentage point increase. Â...

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