June 29, 2009

Industry Opposes CFPA Proposal

Trade group says the proposal is costly and unnecessary — and would endanger safety and soundness.

SBA Opens 504 Loans to Refinancing

The agency says Certified Development Companies can now make loans to help small businesses refinance certain existing debt.

FDIC Planning to End TAG Program

Agency proposal weighs two alternatives.

Fed Reviews Capital Rules

The Fed is considering how to respond to recent FASB changes.

Agencies Propose CRA Changes

The federal bank and thrift regulatory agencies on June 24 proposed changes in their Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) regulations.

Controversy Rages Over Plan to Recycle TARP Money

Relending TARP money that banks repay — is it common sense investment strategy or a plot to socialize America?

Briefs, June 29 — July 3, 2009

• Audit Rules
• Loan Modifications Increase
• FOMC Meets

Quote of the Week, June 29 — July 3, 2009

 

June 26, 2009

Executive Compensation Headed for Reform: A PRATT'S LETTER Special Report

A key ingredient in the “Financial Regulatory Reform” package President Obama unveiled on June 17 is the reform of the financial industry’s executive compensation practices. This special PRATT’S LETTER report explores this controversial topic.

June 22, 2009

Obama Touts Financial Reform Plan

President Barack Obama says his reform proposal will bring “responsibility” to the financial services industry.

Beware the CFPA Monster

Banks will want to keep a sharp eye on the Obama Administration’s plan for sweeping changes in the consumer protection field.

Risk-Based Insurance Premium Proposed

Rep. Luis Gutierrez has proposed legislation that would impose a systemic risk premium on too-big-to-fail banks.

Small Banks Need Better Risk Management, Tarullo Says

Fed Governor Daniel K. Tarullo called on community banks to beef up their risk management practices.

Economy Will Grow Soon, Bank Economists Say

The economists finally see light at the end of the tunnel.

Briefs, June 22 — 26, 2009

• Information Sharing
• Payment Processor Punished

Quote of the Week, June 22 — 26, 2009

 

June 15, 2009

The Truth About the Beige Book

Don’t believe everything you read in the papers. The economic news is worse than portrayed in the press.

Obama, Frank Target Executive Pay at TARP Banks

Watching Washington rewrite the ground rules for bank officers’ pay can be an unsettling process for bank executives.

Administration To Propose Pay Rules for Financial Institutions

It’s not just TARP recipients who will have Washington mucking around in their compensation arrangements.

Oversight Panel Wants New Stress Tests

Regulators need to repeat bank stress tests if the unemployment rate rises beyond the assumptions of the worst-case scenario — which appears likely.

Ten Banks Ready to Repay CPP Investments

Treasury says the ten are now free to return $68 million to the Treasury.

Dodd Puts Banks On Notice

Election politics? Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd is trying to put himself on the side of consumers.

Briefs, June 15 — 19, 2009

• Still More Pay Rules
• Countrywide Insiders Charged
• Duke Emphasizes Consumer Protections
• Bankruptcies Continue to Increase

Quote of the Week, June 15 — 19, 2009

 

June 08, 2009

Bernanke Sounds the Alarm

Everybody knows that the current government spending spree cannot go on forever. Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke says Washington should be planning on how to reverse the course of fiscal policy.