BankThink

Regulatory Uncertainty Hurts Bank Stocks, Stifles Economy

04/23/13

Banks' ability to provide crucial services in support of economic growth reflect their risk-bearing capacity, which is directly related to market valuations of bank franchises.

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Bitcoin Pros to Talk Merchant Acquisition, Banking Opportunities

04/23/13

With bitcoin in the media spotlight, everyone seems to have an opinion on the price. Few recognize the profound implications of decentralized money for the monetary system, society and government - not to mention the emerging business opportunities.

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Why Howard F. Ahmanson Got Into the S&L Business

04/23/13

Ahmanson had seen men get rich by focusing on the government's priorities. Now it wanted homes and mortgages. He would build a business to meet this demand.

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S&P Asks Judge to Dismiss U.S. Lawsuit; Hensarling Tells Cordray to Stay Home

04/23/13

Receiving Wide Coverage ...

A Whole Lot of 'Puffery': Standard & Poor's is formally urging a judge to dismiss the government's civil lawsuit alleging the agency ignored its own standards and rated mortgage investments much higher than they should have been in years leading up to the financial crisis. S&P argued on Monday that the DOJ "had failed to substantiate its allegation that the CDO ratings would have been lower based on the deteriorating housing market,"...

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Why the TBTF Debate is a Sideshow

04/22/13

Fixating on whether to break up the biggest banks puts policymakers at risk of re-fighting the last war while giving short shrift to the emerging risks that imperil the financial system.

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The Future of Housing - Less Government, More Private Capital

04/22/13

The introduction of more private, risk-bearing capital to housing finance should expand homeownership possibilities.

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SEC's White to Name New Lieutenant; Cybersecurity Concerns; Investors Crowd Housing Market

04/22/13

Receiving Wide Coverage ...

SEC's New Enforcer: Chairman Mary Jo White is set to appoint long-time colleague Andrew Ceresney as co-head of the Securities and Exchange Commission's enforcement unit pretty much any day now. Ceresney, who served with White while she was U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York and at law firm Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, will share the role with interim enforcement chief George Canellos. Dealbook calls the joint leadership "unusual, if...

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Fondly Remembering an Old-School Banking Machine

04/19/13

Computers, as fast that they may be, fail to provide depositors with the same quality service as the NCR 2000.

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FDIC Should Charge Banks for Lax Risk Management

04/19/13

Spending several million dollars to beef up risk management processes would be an easy decision if it saved hundreds of millions in deposit assessments each year. Also, Camels should become Carmels.

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Morgan Stanley's Trade-In; SEC's Amnesia; Curry's Spicy Memo

04/19/13

Receiving Wide Coverage ... Who Needs Volcker?: The verdict is in on Morgan Stanley's (MS) weak first quarter, and it's a rousing thumbs down. The Wall Street giant's shares fell 5.4% Thursday after it reported disappointing results and a sharp drop in trading activity. Bond-trading revenue fell 42% and stock-trading revenue 19%, according to the company. The news arrived at a time when Wall Street is supposed to be shifting away from risky trading. That's the...

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