Bank channel

The idea of having the Post Office offer basic financial services has prompted much disagreement-here are the pros and cons.

Most businesses start out small, and many don't survive. But for advisors who take the long-term view, there is a wealth of opportunity.

Lack of scale and the heavy investment wealth platforms require may have prompted the bank holding company to sell its RIA business, says one industry consultant.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.'s fourth-quarter report on industry health showed continued challenges to growth, but the second straight increase in net interest margins is a promising sign for the future.

A small division of the firm previously engaged in illicit activities to shield U.S. funds from tax authorities, officials at Switzerland's second biggest bank acknowledged. But they insisted that internal reforms to curb those abuses have since been implemented.

Banks and credit unions need to up the ante if they want to lure advisors from other firms.

Despite falling foot traffic, banks continue to be an ideal channel for anyone who hasn't developed a book that comfortably produces in excess of $500,000, says recruiting executive.

The Pittsburgh bank announced Monday it is using invoicing services from Bill.com, enabling it to turbocharge the cash flow tools it offers small businesses. PNC's investment is part of a nascent trend of banks stepping up their digital offerings for the customer segment.

JPMorgan laid out a careful plan for a better 2014 on Tuesday, as it tries to recover from a year spent paying for past mistakes. The bank is hoping that more expense cuts, improved technology and a greater reliance on wealth management will boost its future growth.

Financial advisors to some of the wealthiest Americans see struggling Puerto Rico as an outlier in the $3.7 trillion local-debt market, leading them to add municipal bonds as the steepest federal tax rates in more than a decade loom.

Bankers, industry representatives and other experts largely praise the FDIC's plan to unwind troubled behemoths, but suggest a host of issues that the agency needs to address before it can ensure the end of "too big to fail."

The bank agreed to pay $197 million and admitted that it improperly solicited thousands of American clients, ending a U.S. regulatory probe while a broader criminal investigation of tax evasion still looms.

U.S. Bank hires senior executive away from PNC to help lead its Private Client Reserve unit in Florida.

Regulation, succession planning and lending limits are huge issues, particularly for banks with $100 million or less in assets. As a result, more of those banks are taking a hard look at selling themselves.

Three of the new hires joined the firm's family office services group.

Firm's partners say they wanted 'control of our destiny -- we wanted to own our own equity.'

SunTrust SummitView allows customers to integrate financial information in one place and test scenarios that can impact their financial plans.

There are plenty of reasons why small banks may be reluctant to amp up their social media presence. But the past week's bad weather illustrates how these platforms can provide areal value-add.

Banks are preaching the importance of getting low-cost deposits on their books now, ahead of new Basel liquidity rules, and the impending rise of interest rates.

Slowing traffic is forcing banks to train branch staff in the art of making proper referrals, while pushing advisors to be more proactive, say program managers.