banks

Banks have been around for hundreds of years in one form or another. They function as the heart of an economy by pumping money throughout various sectors of an economy. Mortgages, auto loans, student loans, savings bonds, and stocks wouldn't be possible with a proper banking system put into place. Banks make money by charging interest on money they lend to individuals and businesses.

The United States has by far the most banks in the world, reaching over 7,500 (and 75,000 branches) in 2005. Since the advent of the Internet, online banking has become a popular choice for many people looking for a convenient way to handle their banking activities via the Internet. Most banks now offer online services for their customers.

Banks are tightly regulated by government agencies, such as the FDIC, FFIEC, OCC, and OTS – all of which monitor banking activities to ensure proper utilization of customer funds. This information is readily available across the Internet thanks to blogs dedicated to the banking industry and consumer protection.

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Latest blogosphere posts tagged “banks”

• Dubai Fund Asks for Time to Reorganize Debts

  
  NYT > Global Home — Authority: 151
  The Dubai government, in a blunt acknowledgment of the severity of its financial position, said that it had asked its banks for a six-month stay on its schedule of debt repayments.
  3 hours ago

• Bank charges: Britains biggest lenders avoid repaying £20bn in unfair charges after shock Supreme Court decision

  
  Awaiting A Western Renaissance — Authority: 142
  Britains high street banks today avoided having to repay billions in unfair overdraft charges to their customers after the nations highest court ruled in their favour. The Supreme Court overturned earlier court rulings that allowed the Office of Fair Trading to investigate the fairness of charges for unauthorised ...
  4 hours ago

• Charities Struggling to Provide

  
  Education & Careers — Authority: 127
  With a dwindling economy, charities are seeing their donations plummet. Usually during the Thanksgiving and Christmas Season donations tend to skyrocket. But over the last few years the declines in giving to food banks, shelters, and humanitarian centers  have become visible. When people are struggling themselves ...
  4 hours ago

• FBR Capital Markets Announces Appointment

  
  Capital IQ Power Moves — Authority: 147
  FBR Capital Markets announced the addition of four analysts to its research platform. Alex Potter has joined FBR Capital Markets’ subsidiary Friedman, Billings, Ramsey International as senior vice president within financial institutions research. Eric Tracy has joined FBR Capital Markets’ consumer group as ...
  5 hours ago

• Bankunited, FSB Appoints Randy R. Melby

  
  Capital IQ Power Moves — Authority: 147
  BankUnited, FSB named Randy R. Melby as executive vice president and chief risk officer. In his new role Melby will be responsible for risk oversight, which includes loan review; internal audit; compliance, including BSA and AML; corporate fraud investigations and overall operations and credit risk management. ...
  5 hours ago

• (JPM) JPMorgan Chase & Company Fortifies China Management

  
  Stock Blog Hub — Authority: 165
  JPMorgan Chase & Company ( JPM ) said on Monday that it has appointed Zili Shao as chairman and chief executive of its China operation. It has also appointed Fang Fang as vice-chairman of its Asia Investment Banking operations. The company has initiated management changes to strengthen its China operations as ...
  5 hours ago

• (C) Citigroup Expects Strong Economic Growth

  
  Stock Blog Hub — Authority: 165
  Citigroup Inc. ( C ) forecasts strong economic growth in many countries in 2010. But although the company expects several countries to experience economic growth, it predicts that the growth will be somewhat uneven. According to the annual report of Citi’s Investment Research and Analysis group, though growth will ...
  5 hours ago

• Parity Party for the Swissy

  
  Forex Crunch — Authority: 139
  The Swiss Franc has reached parity with the US dollar. Apart from the general weakness of the greenback across the board, also the Swiss National Bank has a role in bringing USD/CHF to 1.USD/CHF reached a year-to-date low of 0.9991 and trades now at a perfect 1.0000. The pair last reached this rate in April [...]
  6 hours ago

• (BAC) Home Prices Continue to Rise

  
  Stock Blog Hub — Authority: 165
  This morning the S&P Case-Schiller index was released. The Composite 20 index (C-20), which covers 20 of the largest metropolitan areas in the country rose by 0.27% on a seasonally adjusted basis (home prices are seasonal, so the adjusted data is what you should be looking at — most of the press makes a mistake ...
  6 hours ago

• Marc Faber: War Against an Invented Enemy & Big Financial Bust Inevitable

  
  Veritas Vos Liberabit — Authority: 434
  Marc Faber Sees War Against an Invented Enemy and a Big Financial Bust by Michael Shedlock Inquiring minds are reading In his gloomiest prediction yet, Marc Faber sees big financial bust leading to war . Marc Faber, the Swiss fund manager and Gloom Boom & Doom editor, said eventually there will be a big bust ...
  7 hours ago

• The Card Game

  
  maya — Authority:
  I rarely have time to watch anything on TV, so when I do get a chance I try to make it worthwhile.  I watched this documentary last night on PBS about how banks have used and continue to use abuse and manipulation to destroy people’s lives.  So so sad.  The bankers say it’s capitalism, but [...]
  7 hours ago

• An Expanded Look At The Hedge Fund Industry

  
  Bear Market Investments — Authority: 498
  Zero Hedge An expanded look at the prospects for the Hedge Fund industry. Not many surprises: the hedge fund boom is expected to resume courtesy of the bubble building that made billionaires out of some of the most pro-cyclical, unimaginative permabulls in existence. With the concept of a free-market ...
  7 hours ago

• The AIG Scandal: Fed Implements New Conflict Standards for Reserve Bank Directors

  
  Bear Market Investments — Authority: 498
  Zero Hedge It is more than a little amusing to see the Fed’s Board of Governors (”BOG”) in Washington announce  changes to the normative standards for Reserve Bank directors on the eve of the Thanksgiving holiday.  The new rules apparently are a direct result of the scandal involving Steve ...
  7 hours ago

• Storm Clouds on Horizon: Early Stage Delinquencies Up

  
  Bear Market Investments — Authority: 498
  Zero Hedge A review of the 3rd Quarter FDIC Regulatory data reveals a disturbing counter trend to the recent drop in early stage delinquencies. Early Stage is defined here as loans 30-89 days past due. Across almost all loan portfolios, the 3rd Quarter delinquency number is higher than the Q2 figures. ...
  7 hours ago

• Guest Post: Let’s Dance Sirtaki On The Liquid Dance Floor!!!

  
  Bear Market Investments — Authority: 498
  Zero Hedge Following up on the earlier post observing the mauling in Dubai sov CDS, here is a great piece from Hedge Your Mind , analyzing the comparable scenario in another country which has seen its CDS spike recently – Greece. You’ll find the ever widening CDS on the fast-growing ...
  7 hours ago

• IMF Chief Shares Concerns About The Economy, Excess Liquidity, The Sino-US Coupling, And Wall Street Compensation

  
  Bear Market Investments — Authority: 498
  Zero Hedge In an interview with Le Figaro, Dominique Strauss-Kahn shares his thoughts on a variety of economic subjects. Notable is his desire for central banks to begin soaking up the “water” which was used to put out the “1929-style” fire. Then again, as the Chairman has said, there is no ...
  7 hours ago

• Financial Winners & Losers: Morgan, Citi

  
  TheStreet.com — Authority: 560
  It is looking like a mixed day for the financial sector on Wednesday, with some big U.S. financials like Morgan Stanley, Citi and JPMorgan declining, while overseas banks rise and the sector as a whole eeks out a minor gain.
  7 hours ago

• Comparing Canada’s Big 5 Banks

  
  MoneyEnergy — Authority: 525
  Many people know that financials make up about 30% of the S&P/TSX .  Many also know that Canada’s banking system was rated the safest , most stable banking system in the world during the past financial crisis (and, in fact, is still considered so). But if you’re not Canadian and not familiar with the ...
  7 hours ago

• It’s Called "Precedent" (Bair)

  
  Bear Market Investments — Authority: 498
  By Karl Denninger, The Market Ticker When GM and Chrysler were bailed out, I wrote on the foolishness of setting forth precedent allowing secured creditors to get screwed so the UAW could "get theirs." Apparently people didn’t bother to listen, because now Bair of the FDIC has endorsed an amendment to the ...
  7 hours ago

• Bundesbank fears relapse as German banks face €90bn fresh losses

  
  Family: News and advice on family matters children and parents — Authority: 973
  The Bundesbank has told German banks to take advantage of renewed confidence while they can to prepare for likely losses of €90bn (£81bn).
  7 hours ago

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