Banking

Equifax agreed to resolve allegations that it failed to conduct proper investigations of consumer disputes, ignored evidence and allowed previously deleted inaccuracies to be reinstated on credit reports. The credit reporting bureau also shared inaccurate credit scores and data about consumers with lenders.

The removal of the fourth-quarter implementation date also impacts the planned addition of a bi-merge report option.

Wells Fargo CEO Charlie Scharf validates some of the optimism, telling analysts he feels "really great about our progress." But he said executives "don't want to get ahead of ourselves."

Without admitting wrongdoing, Equifax agreed to pay $725,000 because of a three-week error which lowered credit scores for 77,000 New Yorkers.

Banks seeking to offload CRE assets are finding a receptive marketplace while regulators have managed to keep the situation in balance, observers say.

A deal would give Ackman a chance to expand Howard Hughes, known for its investments in master-planned communities and retail properties.

As the flames continued to spread, banks closed more branches while others donated to relief efforts.

The financial data firm Intercontinental Exchange is buying the firm that runs the Ameribor interest rate benchmark, which some community and regional banks back as a LIBOR alternative.

Two trade groups filed a lawsuit against the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau claiming it exceeded its authority and ignored the legislative history on medical debts.

Experian said it has gone "above and beyond the law" to investigate consumer disputes related to the accuracy of information.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau finalized a rule that will remove medical  bills from credit reports to end what the bureau called "coercive debt collection practices."

Florida-based Amerant Bancorp recently restructured its securities portfolio after selling its Houston branches.

The Stamford, Connecticut-based bank hired Steven Sugarman to be its president. The former bank CEO, who now heads one of the country's largest mission-based lenders, will help drive an effort to close a capital gap.

Richard "Dick" Parsons, the former Citigroup chairman who died Thursday, is credited with helping the New York megabank survive the financial crisis. Earlier in his career, he led Dime Savings Bank out of the savings-and-loan crisis.

Proceeds from the sale will be used by HomeStreet to pay down Federal Home Loan Bank advances and brokered deposits.

JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, U.S. Bank and Citi had more than $1 billion in combined first-mortgage loans as of Sept. 30.

For the third time in five years, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency issued an enforcement action against the beleaguered bank. It bars USAA from adding new products or loosening its membership criteria without evaluating the risks of getting bigger.

The bank ends the year with a substantially different profile from early 2024, which brought new leadership, a significant reduction to its mortgage operations and a corporate rebrand.

The post-pandemic increase in consumers falling behind on their credit card bills seems to be tapering off. "For 2025, we're seeing a lot of stability in delinquencies," an industry researcher said.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.'s Q3 Quarterly Banking Profile report highlighted net bank income falling 8.6%, but also showed slow delinquency growth in commercial real estate and core income metrics improving across the banking sector.