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Wall Street Journal

In another attempt to prevent taxpayer-funded bailouts of large banks, the Fed is scheduled to vote today on proposal related to derivative contracts.

Hedge funds and asset managers like Pacific Investment Management Co. would lose their contractual right to terminate financial contracts with big banks. As it currently stands, asset managers can terminate contracts with a bank if the bank files for bankruptcy, and the asset manager doesn't have to get in line with...

Receiving Wide Coverage…

The American Bankers Association has pressed the idea of taking Congress to court over its decision last year to cut yearly dividend payments from the Federal Reserve to its member banks. The measure is part of a broad highway spending bill that "violates several legal principles" like breach of contract and taking of property without just compensation, ABA president Rob Nichols noted in a letter he wrote to Congress Thursday. Banks are required...

Wall Street Journal

Goldman Sachs is looking at adding banking services for its online deposit-taking platform, including checking accounts and electronic-bill payments. Whether it would issue debit cards or paper checks, though, remains to be seen (it could well stick to its savings accounts, though, and it's not interested in pushing into credit cards). "We are focused on integrating the platform, ensuring its smooth functioning and delivering high levels of customer service," a Goldman spokesman said....

Receiving Wide Coverage ...

Goldman's Goings On: Goldman Sachs has opened an online bank offering high-yield savings accounts (1.05%, 100 time more than at any Big Four bank) and certificates of deposit (1% on one-year CDs; 2% on five-years) for the average Joe, begging the question from industry observers: why is Goldman so hungry for retail deposits? First, financial regulation. Consumer deposits are a steadier and lower-cost source of funding than short-term loans from other financial...

Wall Street Journal

So what if banks are too big to fail? Deposits at the big four commercial banks grew 2.1% to $.2 trillion in the first quarter – welcome news for banks despite a year-over-year decrease. Though their gains in deposits aren't quite enough to counter some of the more grim details of their first-quarter earnings, they show that the very least, depositors aren't fed up with the too-big-to-fail institutions. ...