Bank channel

The combination of the catastrophic earthquake and tsunami in Japan and sustained instability and violence in the Middle East are taking their toll on U.S. and international markets and compelling large financial institutions to reassess their short- and long-term investments as they await the fallout.

Continued poor rate spreads between CDs and annuity yields pushed bank-sold annuity sales last year to their lowest level since 2000 and off more than 25% from what was widely viewed as a lackluster 2009.

Rauchle previously was founder and president of Wells Fargo Alternative Asset Management.

As banks overhaul compensation to appease regulators and shareholders, some large lenders are tying their pay incentives to criteria under which the companies already excel.

When two tiny banks merge to form a slightly less tiny bank, which institution really reaps the efficiencies: the merged entity — or a larger acquirer down the road?

The Bank of Commerce in Wood Dale, Ill., became the nation's 26th failed bank of the year late Friday.

Experts in white-collar crime said they would be surprised if at this point the government started rounding up bankers en masse to face criminal charges.

The special inspector general for Tarp will wrap up his two-year-plus tour on Wednesday, and he has nothing good to say about Treasury's implementation of the $700 billion bailout.

While half of U.S. banks are aware of the opportunity with mass affluent investors and are busy enhancing their online capabilities, the other half believe they distinguish themselves from the Charles Schwabs of the world with in-person advice.

Although bankers are likely to have significant concerns about the risk retention proposal due next week, they appear to have won at least one victory already.

Bank life insurance sales soared to a record high in 2010, although sales declined sharply in the fourth quarter, the first quarter over quarter decrease in seven quarters, according to the fourth quarter 2010 Kehrer-LIMRA Life Report.

Speaking at the annual ICBA convention, Ben Bernanke assured community bankers the Fed will attempt to protect them as it finalizes its rule capping debit interchange fees.

Dodd-Frank laid out a plan for applying separate supervision for the largest, most complex financial companies. Congress ought to do the same for the simplest and the smallest.

Several years ago, Grant Rawdin passed on the chance to become a charter shareholder in National Advisors Trust, a trust company owned by a registered investment adviser and designed to serve advisers nationwide.

FDIC chairman Sheila Bair received not one but two standing ovations from the ICBA, a week after she was heckled by members of the industry's other main trade group.

Many big banks have been stepping up their philanthropic efforts, zeroing in on efforts to combat the devastating effects of the recession — but not necessarily with dollars.

The reinstatement of the dividend was a surprise given that execs had been saying for weeks they didn't expect the company to start returning capital to shareholders until 2012.

Optimism reigns in the bank brokerage world, according to the first annual Kehrer-LIMRA 2011 Predictions Survey.

Supporters argue the new agency has unprecedented power that needs to be checked, but others contend the GOP simply wants to undercut an agency it never liked to begin with.

How can advisors take advantage of opportunities created by limitations on fees and transactions? Program managers at BISA’s bank broker-dealer breakout session presented some interesting answers. “Banks are struggling with where to get more revenues because of fee reductions,” said Rob Comfort, head of Huntington Investments. “This gives us an opportunity to play a prominent role.” …