The Washington Independent

Posts Tagged banking industry

More on Those White House Anti-Foreclosure Efforts

By | 04.05.10 | 10:28 am

Megan pointed this out more than a week ago, but today the editorialists at The New York Times are also highlighting the central flaw of the updated foreclosure prevention program announced by the White House last month: While the government offers financial More…

With Pressure From Congress, Big Banks Move to Curb Overdraft Fees

By | 09.23.09 | 12:20 pm

For months, Congress has had its eyes on reining in the overdraft fees tacked on by many banks when consumers — often unbeknownest to them — exceed their balances with debit card purchases. Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) introduced a consumer protection bill earlier in the year, and Sen. More…

Dodd to Introduce Bill Tackling Overdraft Fees

By | 09.18.09 | 9:49 am

Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) will soon unveil legislation to rein in the overdraft fees that banks charge consumers who exceed their balances with debit card purchases, American Banker reported Thursday (subscription required).

The bill is sure to provoke an outcry from the banking More…

Another Note on Yesterday’s Treasury Report

By | 08.05.09 | 11:28 am

As a quick addition to Mary’s thoughts on yesterday’s Treasury Department report confirming the reluctance of mortgage servicers to modify loans through the administration’s Making Home Affordable program, it’s worth noting that some of the poorest-performing banks are the same institutions that appeared before Congress just a few More…

Dems Reaping What They Sowed on Rising Credit Card Rates

By | 07.02.09 | 12:08 pm

Congressional Democrats this week have been publicly incredulous that the credit card industry would have the temerity to raise rates and limit lending in the months before legislation restricting those practices takes hold. Indeed, Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), who in April asked the Federal Reserve to step in More…

Obama Meets the $66 Million Gang

By | 03.27.09 | 4:50 pm

The 15 banking CEOs who met with President Obama today in Washington head financial institutions that spent at least $45 million on lobbying in 2008, and gave $21.2 million in political contributions in 2007-2008, according to OpenSecrets.org, the Center for Responsive Politics’ Website that tracks money in politics.

Banks That Got Bailout Money Still Oppose Bankruptcy Reform

By | 01.12.09 | 5:18 pm

It sure looked last week like allowing bankruptcy judges to modify mortgage loans and keep people in their homes finally was getting somewhere. After two years of opposing any such move, Citigroup announced it was getting on board with the idea, with some limitations. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) praised More…

Loan Workouts and Government Bailouts

By | 09.11.08 | 9:01 am

Now that the government has nationalized Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, it should step in and modify the mortgage loans of troubled borrowers on a massive scale, consumer advocates say.

Housing Wire reports that advocates are pushing the two mortgage giants to follow the lead of the Federal Deposit More…