© 2025 Arizent. All rights reserved.

Anticipating recession, banks start scrubbing loan books

Table listing credit segments to concern to a half dozen banks
It's hard to time the next economic slowdown. But lenders, many with lingering memories of the financial crisis, are taking steps now to limit exposure in commercial real estate, construction and other loan segments.

(Full story here.)

Lenders dread prospect of Fannie, Freddie losing CFPB exemption

CFPB headquarters
The seal of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection is displayed on a door at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) headquarters in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Monday, March 4, 2019. House Financial Services Committee Chair Maxine Waters will hold a hearing this week on the semi-annual review of the CFPB. Photographer: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg
Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg
Many in the industry say releasing GSE-backed loans from stringent underwriting rules has helped the housing market recover, but a new level of regulatory burden could reverse those gains.

(Full story here.)

Fed plans to launch real-time payment service by 2024

AB-080519-FAST (1).png
As part of its justification for developing its own government-backed system, the central bank said that leaving only a single fast network run by big banks constitutes a potential risk to the economy.

(Full story here.)

KeyBank rolls out no-fee overdraft, debit-linked savings accounts

KeyBank
The new products, along a 2% cash-back credit card, are aimed at helping customers build savings and reduce debt.

(Full story here.)

How Trump’s political appointees thwarted tougher settlements with two big banks

shorthand_appointees
After talks with well-connected lawyers for Barclays and the Royal Bank of Scotland, senior Justice Department officials in Washington last year overruled career prosecutors who had been investigating wrongdoing that cost investors billions.

(Full story here.)

Revenue-strapped lenders take another look at unbanked customers

AB-080519-UNBANKED.jpeg
With margins under pressure and competition intensifying, a number of community banks are zeroing in on underserved markets.

(Full story here.)

Walmart crypto coin patent could be a back door to banking

Walmart store
A Walmart Inc. store is seen from the parking lot in Secaucus, New Jersey, U.S., on Wednesday, May 16, 2018. Walmart Inc. is scheduled to release earnings figures on May 17. Photographer: Timothy Fadek/Bloomberg
Timothy Fadek/Bloomberg
Walmart has filed a patent application for a digital currency that, like Facebook's Libra, would be a stablecoin backed by traditional currencies. And it envisions a very specific use case where its coin could stand in for cash — or even for a bank account.

(Full story here.)

Fifth Third is latest bank to raise its minimum wage

Signage is displayed outside a Fifth Third Bank branch in Louisville, Kentucky.
The Cincinnati regional bank says it will spend an extra $15 million a year to offer more competitive pay that it hopes will attract talented front-line employees.

(Full story here.)

2020 race pulls Elizabeth Warren away from Senate Banking Committee

Sen. Elizabeth Warren
Senator Elizabeth Warren, a Democrat from Massachusetts and 2020 presidential candidate, speaks during the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Public Service Forum in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S., on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2019. Democratic presidential hopefuls attended the Public Service Forum to discuss their economic plans for working families, union employees and public workers. Photographer: Jacob Kepler/Bloomberg
Jacob Kepler/Bloomberg
The panel has had 13 public meetings since the Massachusetts senator's last appearance, in May.

(Full story here.)

LendingClub eyes 3Q profit, looks to reopen credit spigot

sanborn-scott.jpg
The San Francisco company forecast a modest profit in the third quarter because its cost-cutting plans are ahead of schedule. It's also starting a program to sell riskier loans to sophisticated investors.

(Full story here.)
Commercial lending GSEs Real-time payments Trump administration Elizabeth Warren Federal Reserve Walmart Cryptocurrency
MORE FROM AMERICAN BANKER