BankThink

Morning Scan: Lloyds' Good News/Bad News Earnings; B of A's Mostly Approved Mortgage Settlement

02/03/14

Receiving Wide Coverage ...

European Bank Earnings: European stocks took a hit on Monday, thanks to "some lackluster" bank earnings. Most notably, Lloyds Banking Group reported higher than expected earnings for 2013 but Â-- wait for it Â-- said it was setting aside an additional $3.1 billion to cover potential claims related to the misselling of payment protection insurance and other products. FT Lombard columnist Jonathan Guthrie called the bank's full year update "akin to a...

[more]

Weekly Wrap: Bank of the U.S. Postal Agency; New School vs. Old School Banking

01/31/14

A recap of the informed opinionÂ's (and the discussions they generated) on BankThink this week.

[more]

Postal Banking: Maybe Not So Crazy After All

01/31/14

One could imagine a postal bank as a feeder service that brings unbanked consumers into the mainstream financial system and then graduates them to private institutions.

[more]

Morning Scan: Emerging Market Fears Continue; Goldman's CEO Wins Big

01/31/14

Receiving Wide Coverage ...

Emerging Markets Strained: The papers continue to raise concerns about emerging markets and foreign currencies as investors have pulled billions of dollars out of emerging market stocks and bonds since last week. The Journal says the euro hit its weakest level in 10 days "as expectations mounted that the European Central Bank will have to introduce fresh easing measures to head off the threat of falling prices." The FT says it could...

[more]

Lawsky Processes Bitcoin (The Idea, That Is) After Hearings

01/30/14

Benjamin Lawsky, New York's top financial regulator, rarely sounds ambivalent. But when the topic is something as unprecedented and complex as Bitcoin, the big questions appear to give him pause.

[more]

How Small Banks Can Overcome Big Banks' Lock on Mobile

01/30/14

Big banks have discovered that mobile banking is their best bet for combating deep consumer distrust and rampant turnover. Small banks can overcome their lock on mobile by playing up the strengths of their existing business model.

[more]

Why Banks Shouldn't Write off the Student Loan Market

01/30/14

Private student loans are an asset class that has been a solid performer. There are few better ways to invest in the rebuilding of America than investing in our children and providing the means for a college education.

[more]

Morning Scan: A Break in the Target Case; Work/Life Balance at Citigroup

01/30/14

Receiving Wide Coverage ...

Get a Life: Citigroup is encouraging junior investment bankers to take weekends off and mandating they take vacation time, joining other Wall Street firms that are trying to avoid burning out their young'uns. Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Dealbreaker

SOTU, Day Two: Obama's brief mention of housing finance reform in Tuesday's State of the Union address "provided a glimmer of hope for those looking for action" on the Hill, the Times reports....

[more]

More Bankers Must Embrace Financial Literacy Initiatives

01/29/14

Helping people understand personal finances and empowering them to make better financial decisions ensures a better future for consumers, communities and our nation.

[more]

Why Assume Old-School Banking Is Old-Hat?

01/29/14

When taken together, the posts in our What Customers Want series thus far point to opportunities for banks to innovate around the good old George Bailey banking model.

[more]