BankThink

Receiving Wide Coverage ...

Emails Stolen: You thought just your account information was stolen by the Home Depot hackers? Think again. The orange-clad home-improvement retailer said hackers that broke into its computer networks stole not only 56 million credit-card accounts, but also 53 million customer email addresses. While email addresses are already somewhat publicly available, the nefarious-minded can use the email address to trick people into signing up or agreeing to things they probably don't want....

Most customers who go into bank branches aren't in the mood to entertain a forceful sales pitch. But if they're pleased with the service they receive, they'll be a lot more willing to learn more about a bank's additional offerings.

Until Congress gets around to GSE reform, the FHFA could at least make Fannie and Freddie less expensive to run. Combining the companies would reduce the threat that they will need more support from the Treasury and perhaps lower the cost of obtaining a mortgage.

Receiving Wide Coverage ...

'Watch Out': The results of Tuesday's elections are scrutinized as an attempt is made to extrapolate what it all means to business, with one likely outcome being an improved policy climate for banks. (For a look at how the Senate Banking Committee is likely to proceed under probable chairman Richard Shelby, read American Banker's coverage.) Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky is in the spotlight, as he'll have a long list of items...

Until U.S. authorities can prove they have a better idea about how to provide short-term, small-dollar loans and other alternative financial services to people in need, they should stop trying to drive from business the lawful companies working to serve this market.