Why BMO sees California expansion as key to future growth
The Canadian bank laid out its rationale Thursday for opening new branches in California. The objective is to increase density in the Golden State, and subsequently achieve greater market share and higher returns.
Sen. Durbin, D-Ill., reintroduces credit card airline bill
The legislation would grant the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, among other agencies, more oversight of airline-branded credit cards and rewards schemes.
FTC warns payment giants against political debanking
PayPal, Stripe, Visa and Mastercard must be vigilant against offboarding clients for political or religious reasons, the Federal Trade Commission warned Thursday.
How banks can safely use AI in the cyber operations center
Financial security teams must treat AI like a junior analyst, requiring humans to own decisions and approve any responsive actions to threats.
Crypto wallet maker Ledger opens NYC office
The French crypto wallet company is expanding into the U.S. and growing its institutional enterprise offerings as new regulation opens opportunities for digital asset investment.
AEI panel: GSEs have never paid for their guarantee
New questions about Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s guarantee by experts who saw conservatorship start points to tensions in a stalled secondary offering.
Mortgage rates now at highest point since September
The 30-year fixed mortgage has increased by 40 basis points since February, while the 15-year is 14 basis points lower than a year ago, Freddie Mac reported.
Lenders: Chase affordability gains before rates climb further
Affordability improved in February as rates dipped below 6%, but March’s climb to 6.43% signals tougher months ahead. Lenders should act now on pockets of opportunity before rising rates erode recent gains.
De novo Valt bank gets swift trust charter approval
VALT, a digital-oriented small-business lender founded by U.S. Bank veteran Matt Gediman, received approval for its national trust charter application from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency 120 days after its application, clearing a key regulatory hurdle at a time when regulators are encouraging the formation of more startup banks.
Condo lenders push back on Fannie, Freddie rule changes
Some lenders and condo market stakeholders are raising concerns that new GSE rules ending limited reviews and tightening reserve requirements could raise costs.