With no more lines and far more banks to choose from, I want the one I select to handle my exceptional transactions exceptionally. I want to leave my bank knowing that my visit was and always will be worthwhile.
No matter how streamlined my finances have become, there is one regular nuisance: sending money to and from family or friends without the friction that requires recipients to provide hard-to-remember information like account numbers and routing numbers.
The Sniper's main contribution seems to be shooting down others' ideas. The Historian defends the status quo to the end and the Jetson is convinced the bank's existence rides on the latest technology craze. All of these mind-sets are shortsighted.
The Â"ability-to-repayÂ" regime eviscerates fundamental principles of a mortgage Â"market.Â" It will not guarantee against a housing bubble and crash. It will constrain the availability of credit and increase home financing costs.
Banks need startups to test the waters with new products and services, but startups need banks for their capital, infrastructure, large customer bases, established regulatory relationships and compliance training.
Before consigning millions of Americans to lives of perpetual tenancy, we need observers on all sides of the housing reform debate to put aside rhetoric and focus on market realities.
Branches are outdated, expensive and unwieldy. For years, bankers have postponed dealing with the dead weight. Now it looks like theyÂ're starting to make the necessary hard decisions. Finally.
