BankThink

Fed Stress Test Results; Lawmakers vs. Regulators on TBTJ; Goldman Changes Promotion Policy

03/08/13

Receiving Wide Coverage ...

Reaction Split on Stress Test Results: Seventeen of the 18 largest banks have enough capital on hand to weather a sharp economic downturn, according to the first set of results from the Federal Reserve's latest stress tests. Full explainer, plus graph, of the results are available in this American Banker article. You'll notice Ally Financial standing out as the only bank failing to meet the Fed's requirement of a minimum Tier 1...

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Mortgage Settlement Is Beating Goals, Proving Doubters Wrong

03/07/13

Our hope and plan was that the settlement would show principal reduction works and that it would spur the use of writedowns in other loan modifications. That is now occurring.

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Google Glass Will Change Your Branches

03/07/13

Augmented reality has the potential to enhance customer service and promote sales during customers' in-store transactions.

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Stress Test Preview; Dow Does It Again; U.S. AG Admits Some Banks Are TBTJ

03/07/13

Receiving Wide Coverage ...

Stress Test Results Are Coming: Today is the day the Federal Reserve tells banks how they fared on their stress tests and whether they'll be able to return more capital to shareholders through dividends or buying back stock. Results won't be made public until March 14, but according to the Journal's Heard on the Street column, "analysts expect healthy capital returns overall." This doesn't mean investors should expect big payouts, as some...

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A Rock 'n' Roll Recording Studio's Lesson for Banks

03/07/13

Banks have made hugely successful bets on emerging technologies that changed their industry and they barely have time to perfect one innovation before the pressure to find new ways of staying relevant starts up all over again.

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Focus on Easy Refis Leaves Harp's Potential Unfulfilled

03/06/13

The Home Affordable Refinancing Program should not be judged by the total number of completed refis. The true measure of success of any mortgage relief program should be the percentage of high-risk borrowers who ultimately benefit.

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'Too Big to Fail' Is a Distraction

03/06/13

Breaking up the nation's megabanks will not herald a new Golden Age where market discipline reigns supreme.

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Use Your Branches' Empty Spaces to Promote Small Businesses

03/06/13

Finding ways to spotlight and promote our small business customers within our branches strengthens a customer's bond with his bank like few things can.

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Dow Hits Record High; Will Gensler Spend a Second Term at CFTC?

03/06/13

Receiving Wide Coverage ...

All About the Dow: Despite "tepid economic growth" and "political gridlock" (most recently personified by the ongoing sequester), the Dow Jones Industrial Average hit a record high on Tuesday, climbing 125.95 points, or 0.89%, to 14253.77 and exceeding the previous record set in October 2007. But will the rally last? Maybe, posits the Journal. Or, alternately, should more investors pile in? Possibly, says the Times, due largely to the ongoing efforts of...

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Community Banks Must Stay Disciplined as C&I Lending Surges

03/05/13

Some banks may be getting reckless with the pricing and terms they're offering commercial borrowers. The trend should temper enthusiasm for otherwise welcome signs of growth.

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