The tech giant won praise from consumer groups for its decision to ban ads for high-cost consumer loans. But the policy contains a big loophole, and advertisers have found multiple ways to exploit it. ... Read full article
In a new book, Mehrsa Baradaran argues that the same forces of poverty that African-American banks were supposed to alleviate are now holding them back. ... Read full article
Most of the country has never heard of Madden v. Midland Funding, but the impact of the misguided court decision on consumers is far-reaching. ... Read full article
The Alabama bank will add the nonprofit's financial-advice centers for underbanked consumers to 88 branches over the next four years, in addition to the 12 it already housed. ... Read full article
The Swiss bank got involved in microfinance in a counterintuitive way: at the behest of its wealthiest clients. Technology has made lending in small rural villages more efficient and profitable. ... Read full article
The Pasadena, Calif., company reported net income of $19.3 million, up from $8 million in the same period a year earlier. ... Read full article
Readers react to USAA teaming up with Amazon’s Alexa, how a new Wells Fargo’s scandal could affect arbitration rules, a digital identity startup’s ambitions, and more. ... Read full article
As an open network, bitcoin is in one sense the most inclusive financial system imaginable. But for now, transfers of the cryptocurrency are priced like a luxury good. ... Read full article
Lansing, Mich., is working with area banks to open accounts for people coming out of prison. ... Read full article
The $1.5 million investment will help Grameen America make more small-dollar loans in the Midwest. ... Read full article
The eight winners of an annual fintech competition will receive $250,000 in capital and resources. ... Read full article
The city has spent more than a decade working with nonprofits and banks to encourage people to open deposit accounts. Outreach and special products have lowered the unbanked rate in San Francisco to 2.1% in 2015 from 5.9% in 2011. ... Read full article
Readers weigh in on the in-store branch model, how community banks hone their message, the difficulty cash-strapped consumers face in finding bank loans, and more. ... Read full article
The nonprofit Bank On certifies banks that offer deposit accounts with minimal fees. It is one of many initiatives designed to bring more consumers into mainstream banking. ... Read full article
Banks have not adjusted their business models to accommodate growing numbers of financially precarious Americans. But hard times should not disqualify people from the banking system. ... Read full article
A Nebraska banking veteran put up $1 million of her own money to create a microlending program that doesn't require business owners to provide traditional collateral. ... Read full article
Fintech still has a ways to go to change the financial world, but it already offers solutions to income insecurity that can be truly transformational right now. ... Read full article
The Pasadena, Calif., firm also reported growth in the number of active prepaid cards for the first time since the second quarter of 2015. Profits rose by 24%. ... Read full article
The acquirer of the failed Guaranty Bank took a pass on the latter’s 107 in-store branches, leading to their shutdown and a disruption in service for many low-income customers. ... Read full article
Despite a categorical denial this week by Wells Fargo CEO Tim Sloan, former employees like Yesenia Guitron say trawling for immigrants was routine. ... Read full article
