BankThink

Two Nations Divided by a Common Language and a Grandstanding Regulator

08/14/12

Receiving Wide Coverage ...

Still More StanChart: The money-laundering allegations against Standard Chartered have further strained relations between U.S. and U.K. financial regulators, which were already testy from recriminations after the Libor scandal, according to the Journal. In the FT, columnist Tom Braithwaite says U.K. officials come off "thin-skinned" in their rush to defend StanChart against the accusations by New York state regulator Benjamin Lawsky. "Implicit — and sometimes explicit — in the wave of London...

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Statistical Quirks Confound Lending Bias Claims

08/14/12

The complaint against Wells Fargo highlights problems in comparing borrowers from different racial and ethnic groups.

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Aggressive Credit Unions Find New Loophole in Lending Limit

08/13/12

Their regulator has achieved for them by administrative fiat what they have been unable to accomplish in Congress.

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Wall Street Sets the Rules for Regulators

08/13/12

Regulators currently entrusted with the task of policing Wall Street are facing a well-funded, well-connected and politically shrewd beast.

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StanChart Is Having a Hard Time Getting to 'Yes' with Lawsky

08/13/12

Receiving Wide Coverage ...

StanChart Update: Standard Chartered is trying to settle New York state regulators' allegations it laundered money for Iran, ahead of a hearing scheduled Wednesday on whether the U.K. bank should keep its local license, the FT reports. However, there is a sizable bid-ask spread in the negotiations, as it were: Benjamin Lawsky's Department of Financial Services wanted $500 million, and StanChart came back with an offer of $5 million, which the regulator...

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Why Paul Ryan is Bad News for Bankers

08/13/12

Yes, the Wisconsin Republican opposed Dodd-Frank and supports the limited government that many bankers crave. But he'll also help harden the views of an electorate that's already leaning Obama's way.

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Barofsky's Memoir Will Ring True to Bank Examiners, Auditors

08/10/12

The special inspector general for Tarp worked in the subbasement of the Treasury Department. Watchdogs given an inconvenient, dank, dark, dirty and desolate office maybe won't stay long.

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Goldman Escapes Criminal Charges, Barclays Names New Chairman

08/10/12

Receiving Wide Coverage ...

Goldman Off the Hook: The Justice Department has decided it will not charge Goldman Sachs (or any of its employees) with financial crimes related to the mortgage crisis. Neither, apparently, will the Securities and Exchange Commission, as Goldman Sachs announced separately the SEC had informed it an investigation into a $1.3 billion subprime mortgage deal had come to an action-less end. The Justice Department said there was not enough evidence to file...

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These Five Factors Will Increase Mobile Adoption

08/10/12

Show consumers mobile channels are useful, accessible, secure, familiar and easy to use.

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Credit Card Swipe Fee Battle Far from Over

08/09/12

The judge overseeing the Visa/MasterCard swipe fee dispute will not approve the settlement until the second half of 2013. In the interim, this deal must get through numerous hurdles.

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