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Kraninger closer to confirmation as consumer bureau chief

Aug 24, 2018
A career civil servant with little banking industry experience, Kathy Kraninger, tapped by the Trump administration to lead the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection won the approval of the Senate Banking Committee in a party line split vote. Next, the full Senate will vote to approve her. Click the audio player above to hear the […]
Kathleen Kraninger briefing at the Washington Foreign Press Center on the "Launch of Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA)."
Courtesy of Foreign Press Centers

FBI warns of sophisticated attack on ATMs

Aug 14, 2018
The website Krebs on Security reports that on Friday, the FBI sent banks around the country an alert. It said cyber criminals were preparing to a launch a global fraud scheme known as an “ATM cashout.” Small- and medium-sized banks appear most vulnerable to these kind of ATM attacks. Click the audio player above to […]
A man takes out Euro banknotes from an automated teller machine. 
JEAN-SEBASTIEN EVRARD/AFP/Getty Images

Los Angeles demands more accountability from its banks

Aug 13, 2018
Last month , LA took on predatory and high-pressure sales goals at major banks by tightening its responsible banking ordinance. Now, if a bank wants the city’s $17 million taxpayer-funded contracts, it must be transparent about sales goal tactics and employee compensation, and it can’t retaliate against whistleblowers who report suspected illegal bank activity. Bank reform advocates […]
A Wells Fargo sign is seen on the exterior of one of their bank branches on September 9, 2016 in Miami, Florida. 
Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Why does everybody want me to check my credit score?

Aug 8, 2018
Once a closely held secret, free scores are abundant.
Major credit card companies could be getting into the buy now, pay later space.
DAMIEN MEYER/AFP/Getty Images

Lloyd Blankfein changed Goldman Sachs. Will David Solomon keep it up?

Jul 17, 2018
Goldman Sachs reported quarterly profits today, beating analyst expectations. As is often the case on Wall Street, the ups were no match for the downs — like heavy legal expenses and weak trading results. But the big news for the bank was that a successor has been named to replace storied Goldman CEO, Lloyd Blankfein, who […]

The Volcker rule, explained

May 30, 2018
Today, the Federal Reserve is scheduled to take a step toward revising the Volcker rule. That’s the regulation, hated by the big banks, that limits risky trading practices. The Fed is one of five federal agencies that needs to weigh in on any changes. Click the audio player above to hear the full story. 

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Fed Board of Governors to consider changes to Volcker rule

May 29, 2018
The Federal Reserve on Wednesday is expected to take up a proposal to relax the Volcker rule. That’s the measure passed in 2010 as part of the Dodd-Frank financial reform law. Big banks say the Volcker rule, which is designed to protect depositor money from risky investments, is too expensive and constraining. Click the audio […]

Small and midsize banks could get a big boost under new banking bill

May 23, 2018
Only the biggest financial institutions will be required to hold extra cash reserves to counterbalance risk.

Bear Stearns employees: "Poor, smart and had a deep desire to be rich"

Mar 14, 2018
New York Times reporter Kate Kelly discussed the types of people who worked at Bear Stearns, including CEO Jimmy Cayne.
A man walks out of Bear Stearns headquarters on March 24, 2008 in New York City.
Chris Hondros/Getty Images