So there you have it, the Dodd-Frank Act, formerly known as the Restoring American Financial Stability Act. “After great debate, we have produced a strong Wall Street reform bill that will fundamentally chan... >>more

On May 13, the Senate voted on an amendment proposed by Senate Majority Whip Richard Durbin, D-Ill., to allow the Federal Reserve to cap interchange fees charged by banks and credit card companies. In additio... >>more

We are now officially past the halfway point for 2010 and probably the most surprising thing so far is how short-term interest rates have remained at historically low levels. I guess the Fed really meant it when they placed the words “an extended period” in the minutes after each Federal Open Market Committee meeting this year. Keep in mind that we have a Great Depression expert running the Fed. ... >>more

These days, keeping up with the Joneses may be the last thing on anyone’s mind. But keeping up with kids, soccer schedules, appointments and deadlines, not to mention when bills are due and account balances are things we all want at our fingertips. Online banking has seen a growth in recent years, fueled by the adoption of new technology and the Generation Y (ages 18 to 29) segment. In fact, accor... >>more

Where do you fit? Are you a little fish in a big pond or a big fish in a little pond? Whether you are a large market candidate considering a rural town position or a rural town banker needing quality candidates, consider carefully what each has to offer. For example, when I was working for a bank in a large city, I noticed an ad for an advanced position in a rural town. I knew I wanted a change ... >>more

Almost everyone in the banking industry is aware of the sometimes significant gains recorded by successful bidders on failed banks. Due to several factors, more recent acquisitions have generally reported fewer initial gains. The competitive bidding for failing banks has become fierce. Where before only a handful of banks were bidding, now there are hundreds of banks interested in acquiring failin... >>more

Overall, Missouri banks are in “reasonably good condition,” according to Missouri Division of Finance Commissioner Rich Weaver. However, Weaver said five state-chartered banks have already failed since the recession began and he expects two or three more will fail this year. Speaking at the Missouri Bankers Association’s annual convention last month, Weaver said common problems he sees at Missou... >>more

Mobile banking is undergoing a major transformation. What began as verifying account balances and receiving text updates has expanded to include person-to-person payments, mobile remote deposit capture, money transfers and contactless payments, to name a few emerging applications. These new mobile capabilities, coupled with a bevy of non-traditional banking entities, make it difficult not to worry... >>more

Hopefully they were temporarily distracted by the majesty of the Teton Mountains towering over Jackson Hole, Wyo., but attendees at the Tri-State Bankers Summit there last month were faced with the realities of regulatory reform and recovery from recession in the business sessions. After summarizing the 1,974-page draft reform legislation being sliced and diced in the conference committee, Consul... >>more

The outlines of regulatory overhaul finally took shape during the wee hours of June 25, as Senate and House conferees barely met their self-imposed deadline to have finished legislation on President Barack Obama’s desk by July 4 — although the full House and full Senate have to vote on the 2,000-page bill the week prior to July 4. Several modifications and additions during the days leading up to... >>more