BankThink

Wall Street Journal

It's about to get harder for brokers to hide their dirty laundry from clients, according to the paper. The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority will begin sharing with state insurance regulators a monthly list of securities brokers who have been banned or suspended from the industry. The move stems from concerns that regulatory gaps have allowed some brokers to continue peddling financial products to clients even after they have been nailed for misconduct. A...

It is unclear if the wave of state actions signals a burgeoning state scrutiny of consumer finance companies or if state enforcers will only employ this new approach on occasion.

A recent study intended to measure Americans' understanding of arbitration clauses asked the wrong questions. The more germane issue is whether arbitration produces better outcomes for consumers than court and class action litigation.

Editor's note: Morning Scan will publish next on Dec. 29. Happy holidays from all of us at American Banker and SourceMedia. Receiving Wide Coverage ...

Investors Worry About Ocwen: Ocwen Financial's legal settlement with New York state banking regulator Benjamin Lawsky led to a sharp drop in its share price on Monday, as investors expressed concern about the company's ability to move past the settlement's onerous terms. Among those terms: William Erbey will step down as chairman...

Some community banks have entered into the booming energy market without taking the necessary precautions, making them vulnerable to a downturn in oil prices.