BankThink

CFTC's Court Defeat Holds Lesson for All Banking Regulators

10/04/12

Agencies need to make sure that the regulations being implemented are necessary to address the problems the Dodd-Frank Act intended to address. Analyzing the rules' potential economic impact is critical.

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Dodd-Frank Discussed in Debate; Ocwen Goes Shopping

10/04/12

Receiving Wide Coverage ... An Actual Romney Reboot? The papers are awash with recaps of the first presidential debate, in which Obama and Romney argued over healthcare, taxes... and banks! Being who we are, we'll stick to the outlets that covered the banking news. Romney hit Obama on the slow pace of establishing a definition for a qualified residential mortgage (undeniable even if the immediately beneficial effect of having a rule in place is unclear) and...

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Why 'Back to Basics' Is the Right Answer to Basel

10/04/12

Basel III is nearly incomprehensible to most readers, including bank directors, managers, and analysts. Of what use is a measure no one can understand? Tangible equity capital is understood by all.

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Why Banks Should Pay Attention to How Consumers Prioritize Bills

10/03/12

The payment hierarchy is dynamic. Lenders using historical payment models to set strategy risk significant exposure on their existing loan portfolios as well as on acquisition opportunities when consumer preferences inevitably shift.

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SEC Exemption That Fanned Crisis Remains on the Books

10/03/12

An alternative capital requirement that allowed Lehman and Bear Stearns to build up huge subprime portfolios and incur excessive leverage remains in effect for six large broker-dealers and investment banks.

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What Bankers Can Learn Walking in Underbanked's Shoes

10/03/12

Serving the unbanked requires a worldview that most industry insiders don't have, but truly need in order to innovate responsibly on behalf these consumers. Here are insights some companies have gleaned from spending a day as the underserved.

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JPM Calls Schneiderman a Copycat; Bill Gross Calls Uncle Sam a Junkie

10/03/12

Receiving Wide Coverage ...

Schneiderman vs. JPMorgan, Day Two: JPMorgan Chase tells the Journal that New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman's lawsuit alleging securities fraud by JPM predecessor institution Bear Stearns "recycle[s] claims already made by private plaintiffs." Specifically, a lot of the profanity-laced trader emails and statistics cited by Schneiderman were also in a suit filed against JPM by the bond insurer Ambac. Moreover, a member of Schneiderman's staff worked on the Ambac case at...

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In-Store Branches May Survive Brick-and-Mortar Exodus

10/03/12

It's been my experience that the closing of in-store branches generates more chatter than the fact that another bank often immediately opens and prospers in those exact spaces.

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Dodd-Frank's Derivatives Rules Will Cost Small Banks, Too

10/02/12

Banks with less than $10 billion in assets are exempt from clearing and exchange trading requirements, but as derivative users they will have to post margin, keep records and amend documents.

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How CEOs Can Get the Most Out of Internal Memos

10/02/12

Don't focus solely on cost savings. Instead, articulate that you're willing to look at new ideas and projects to help improve margins. This will inspire managers to tap into a fresh wave of thinking.

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