BankThink

Need More Capital, Credit Unions? Switch to a Bank Charter

09/10/12

The inclusion of secondary capital as part of credit unions' net worth would give them yet another unfair regulatory advantage over banks.

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Banks Should Drop Tricks and Traps for Good

09/07/12

Under pressure from a regulator solely focused on protecting the consumers' financial interest, many banks have started abandoning suspect practices. Let's keep it that way.

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Why the CARD Act Should Apply to Business Cards

09/07/12

Unpredictable card terms and conditions make it hard for small-business owners to budget. If they can't allocate funds with confidence, they're less likely to hire employees, hurting the economy.

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Can't Wait for This Hearing: Carl Levin's Subcommittee Probes Dimon's Bank

09/07/12

Receiving Wide Coverage ...

Carl Levin, Whale Hunter: Just when you thought you'd heard the last about the London Whale affair … Senator Carl Levin's Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations is conducting a probe of the JPMorgan chief investment office's derivative trades, the FT and Bloomberg News report. The subcommittee has subpoenaed JPM's regulators for documents and is seeking testimony from CIO veterans, the reports say. If the bank's executives are asked to testify before the subcommittee,...

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Credit Union Capital Requirements Stifle Access to Credit

09/07/12

Retail credit unions can improve their net worth only through retained earnings. That's made a stressful period for all financial institutions particularly challenging for this category. Let them raise capital.

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When a Customer's Bad Behavior Can Bring a Bank Down

09/06/12

Some courts will deem financial institutions liable simply for knowing about the red flags, while others require proof the bank knew about their customers' schemes. This subjective standard is often unfair and difficult to manage.

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Romney Shakedown Attempt Shows Bitcoin's Laundering Potential

09/06/12

The anonymous blackmailers may be trying to manipulate the market price of bitcoins, even if their claim to possesses Romney's tax returns is hoax.

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Let Banks Trade Securities - It's Where Their Future Lies

09/06/12

The capital markets are where growth is occurring today and if banks want to be profitable in the future they won't be able to do it solely or even principally by making loans.

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Auditors Give Banks a Pass on Reserves, KPMG Report Shows

09/05/12

The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board's first report this year on a Big Four firm confirms my long-held suspicion: Auditors have been too easy on banks when they book reserves for loan losses and repurchase demands.

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