The Federal Housing Administration said in its annual actuarial report that the capital reserve ratio on its mutual mortgage insurance fund increased to 6.10% in fiscal year 2020, up from 4.84% a year earlier.

Consumer savings are up, yet so are evictions. Banks need to reach out more to those who are struggling financially, and they could use data as a guide.

Lending opportunities have become scarce, especially with commercial borrowers, and banks are resisting the temptation to relax standards to boost volume.

Concerns over cash and checks are permanent and will make contactless mainstream, says Global Market Insights' Vinisha Joshi.

Even given the huge jump in digital transactions from e-commerce, card brands are holding out for COVID-19 vaccines as a path out of the payment declines that have accompanied 2020’s health and economic crises.

Regulators were receptive to Republican lawmakers' calls to ease burdens on banks that cross new asset thresholds as a result of their participation in the Paycheck Protection Program.

Many small banks are reactivating repurchase programs, signaling that capital levels remain strong and credit issues are under control.

Temporary policy responses have mitigated problems in the short-term funding markets related to the pandemic, but permanent fixes may be necessary in some areas, the agency said in a report.