BankThink

FDIC's Undisclosed Failed-Bank Settlements; Mary Jo White's Big Day

03/12/13

Receiving Wide Coverage ...

Failed-Bank Fallout: D&O insurance premiums are way up for small banks as the FDIC goes after former executives of failed institutions, the Journal reports. Meanwhile, the FDIC has kept quiet about "scores" of settlements in failed-bank cases the last few years, thanks to "no press release" clauses, a Los Angeles Times investigative piece revealed. Though these clauses can seal a deal with a defendant who wants to avoid embarrassment, they represent "a...

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Problems at FHA Too Big for Congress to Ignore

03/12/13

Reform efforts could result in a much smaller scope of permissible lending at the FHA, with a renewed focus on its traditional core of low-income customers, higher credit score requirements and increased down payments.

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Faux Outrage Over 'Too Big to Jail'

03/11/13

Proponents of breaking up big banks trumpet Attorney General Eric Holder's complaint that some are too large to prosecute. But indicting companies for individual employees' actions would indeed be reckless.

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'Too Big to Fail' a Myth? What a Relief

03/11/13

The nonexistence of "too big to fail" is swell news. Now taxpayers can stop worrying about future bailouts, the Federal Reserve can ease monetary policy and the Justice Department can prosecute the banks purportedly "too big to jail."

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Once-'Sticky' Bank Customers Are Coming Unstuck

03/11/13

In the past, it was tough for customers to change banks. So, we could charge them-and treat them-pretty much as we pleased. Technology renders switching banks easier and cheaper-making banking more competitive, less profitable.

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Bernanke in Limbo; Too Big to Ignore; Commodity Famine

03/11/13

Receiving Wide Coverage ...

Bernanke in No-Man's Land: When the history of the financial crisis is written, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke will no doubt take flak for many things but timidity about stimulating the economy is unlikely to be among them. A half decade after the crisis, and with the labor market on the mend, the Fed is still buying $85 billion of mortgage-backed securities and Treasuries each month. It's financing the expansion of its...

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Why Overdraft Is Here to Stay

03/11/13

Even if regulators restrict banks' ability to charge overdraft fees, those consumers who value banks that cover their overdrafts will find a way to reward institutions providing the best service.

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Clarifying FDIC Data About Small-Dollar Credit

03/08/13

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. responds to two recent posts that cited its underbanked survey results.

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How to Get Congress to Pay Attention to Banks' Regulatory Burden

03/08/13

Produce a video for members of Congress to watch that focuses on a typical banking transaction and shows the various laws, regulations and other issuances that come into play at every stage of the process.

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Gutting Regulation May Help the Banker, But Harm Society

03/08/13

Banks have convinced policymakers, regulators and sometimes the courts that new regulations might be too expensive. However, the point of public intervention is to induce banks to take account of costs they impose on others.

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