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If the CFPB's appeals are not successful, President-elect Donald Trump would be able to fire CFPB Director Richard Cordray for no reason.
Law & Regulation
CFPB Appeals 'Dramatic and Unprecedented' Constitutional Ruling
by John Heltman
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has formally appealed an October court ruling that undercut the agency's independent status, arguing that the decision laid out a theory of separation of powers without precedent in case law or the Constitution.

Top Stories

Dealmaking & Strategy
Big Deal Brings Urban Opportunity, New Challenges for First Interstate
Montana's biggest bank will have to compete in cities such as Seattle and Portland, Ore., after buying Cascade Bancorp. But the company is arguably more excited about its chances to grow in central Oregon and Idaho, which are more like its existing markets.  more »
Law & Regulation
OCC's Curry: Fintech a 'Strategic Risk' for Small Banks
Smaller banks risk falling behind if they do not make space for financial innovation, Comptroller of the Currency Thomas Curry warned Friday.  more »
BankThink
Banks' Culture Problem: You Can't Have Just One
Community Banking
Small Banks Start to Feel Sting of BSA Enforcement

Breaking News

OCC Restricts Wells Fargo's Golden Parachutes, Exec Changes 09:30PM ET
FCC Denies Mortgage Servicers' Bid for Robo-Calling Waiver 05:36PM ET
Wells Fargo Stonewalling on Accounts Scandal, Brown Says 05:18PM ET
Why Consumer Credit Rejections Are on the Rise 05:10PM ET
Fed Makes It Tougher for Ex-Officials to Work on Wall Street 03:03PM ET
Fifth Third Expands CRA Pledge to $30B 02:41PM ET
First Financial in Wash. Adds Regulatory Vet to Board 11:42AM ET
First NBC in La. Adds Reg Order to List of Challenges 09:26AM ET
Simmons First to Buy First South Bank in Tenn. 09:06AM ET

Consumer Finance

Bankers Balk at New HMDA Data Demands
Banks already have a difficult time collecting data on mortgage lending to minorities. New data requirements scheduled to take effect in early 2018 could lead to even more mistakes — and financial penalties — not to mention higher compliance costs and longer delays in closing loans.  read more »

Community Banking

Small Banks Start to Feel Sting of BSA Enforcement
Carter Bank in Virginia had been enjoying record profit until it was ordered to beef up Bank Secrecy Act compliance. The institution is the latest community bank to take a hit from enhanced oversight.  read more »
FinTech Forward
Can a Desktop Icon Compete in a Mobile Banking World?
Can a Desktop Icon Compete in a Mobile Banking World?
In the days of diskettes, Quicken was an innovator. Now, the personal financial manager aims to reclaim its glory days as it targets the 35-and-older crowd.  read more »

Bank Technology

Next-Gen Biometrics: Using the Force of Habit
Behavioral biometrics has already stopped several million dollars worth of online banking fraud at National Westminster Bank in London.  read more »

Community Banking

New Hurdle for Ag Lenders: Delays with Some Government-Backed Loans
The Farm Service Agency and the Small Business Administration seem to be taking longer to approve guarantees for loans to facilities that house livestock, creating another headache for bankers.  read more »

National/Regional

How Big a Collateral Risk Are PACE Loans?
Commercial mortgage lenders, and investors in their bonds, have been more eager than the residential market to embrace Property Assessed Clean Energy loans even though those loans hold a superior-lien position. Here's why.  read more »

Dealmaking & Strategy

Ripples from Trump Win May Extend to Bank M&A;
Will another reason for market fluctuations hurt stock-heavy merger agreements? Will the promise of lighter regulation give buyers more time to chase deals, or encourage prospective sellers to stay independent? The wheels are already turning in the minds of dealmakers after Trump's defeat of Clinton.  read more »

Marketplace Lending

The Battle Begins: Banks Take On Online Lending Rivals
Can banks outdo online lending startups in head-to-head competition? We're about to find out. Goldman Sachs, Wells Fargo and Quicken have all entered the digital lending business, putting early entrants on the defensive.  read more »
American Banker Magazine
Hawk. Dissident. Advocate. Why Esther George Stands Out at the Fed
The president of the Kansas City Fed is best known for her dissenting votes on monetary policy, but that's not the only way she stands out. Her background as a farmer and former bank examiner gives her a unique perspective among Fed officials.  read more »

Research Reports

Podcast
Why Consumers Make Irrational Financial Decisions Sometimes
Wei Ke, a partner at consultants Simon-Kucher, discusses the psychology behind customers' choices, including the appeal of metal credit cards, the willingness to pay $450 a year for a card and the paralysis of too many options.
In Pictures
'A Totally False Agenda': Comments of the Week
Video
Customer Experience Is the Tie that Binds Banks and Fintech
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