Garnet Capital Advisors Blog

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Our take on the latest trending events:

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The church loan buyer market is larger than you may have imagined. This market can be profitable for investors, serve some of their ESG goals, and may attract a lot of buyers. Plenty of investors are looking for places where they can find investments during this period of decreased available products. Some of them are finding it in the church loan market. 
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An uncertain market can create unexpected situations, especially in a non-core business. Relieving stress on internal resources dedicated to those non-strategic businesses can reduce volatility and financial cost.
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Selling underperforming assets to debt buyers surely sounds like a great deal for banks, credit unions, and credit card issuers to accelerate cash flow and get some less than ideal accounts off their books. However, most do not want to put themselves in a position where they get periodic boosts to their balance sheet via these sales but are unable to maintain steady or consistent profits because they are uncertain as to the future price of sale pools. Instead, some are opting to use a "forward flow" agreement to create a more consistent income flow from the sale of these debts. 
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According to the Federal Reserve's May-issued report, the rising prices of assets in the stock market and elsewhere are posing significant threats to the fiscal system. This report analyzes conditions that affect how stable the financial system is by reviewing vulnerabilities that affect valuation pressures, borrowing by households and businesses, funding risk, and financial leverage. It also highlights near-term hazards that could interact with these vulnerabilities if they're realized.
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Recent news about a COVID-19 vaccine that's ready for distribution has led to a sharp steepening of the yield curve, which is a good thing for banks as interest margins will increase, and profits will follow.
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Ally Bank has teamed up with Nintendo's Animal Crossing: New Horizons in an effort to "gamify" its attraction of younger customers.
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EXCERPT: Americans are taking short vacations close to home these days, and leisure hotels near population centers and the beach communities are doing rather well.
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The uncertainty that came about as a result of the Madden v. Midland Funding ruling has been a concern among lenders, but the OCC's final rule confirming the "valid when made" principle may give banks a pass, which is a positive thing for secondary loan markets.
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Banks and Credit Unions have seen a drop in lending and a surge in deposits as economic uncertainty continues amidst the coronavirus pandemic. Adding short-term, higher-quality consumer loans that have some yield to them should be the next step for financial institutions.
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Despite efforts by the FCC to issue millions of dollars in fines against companies making illegal robocalls, very little has actually been collected.
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Boat and RV sales are through the roof as Americans look for an acceptable form of social distancing vacationing, and lenders holding these loans can benefit.
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As people start heading back to work after lockdowns to curb the coronavirus, safety measures are being adopted by employers. The question is, how much will such measures affect the "new" working environment?
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Credit union and bank associations are teaming up to reassure consumers they are healthy and available to help amid the current coronavirus pandemic.
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Even during times of great economic stress stemming from the coronavirus pandemic, credit unions will remain strong. Consumers should feel reassured knowing their credit unions are keeping client assets secure.
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Digital banking is coming, and banks and credit unions need to develop digital platforms and digital offerings, or they will be left behind.
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The ongoing spread of the coronavirus has already dampened worldwide growth, and it could get worse. Given the uncertainty that lies ahead, now's the time to recession-proof your loan portfolio.
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Banks and lenders expect to tighten their lending standards as they anticipate a trend of increased delinquencies and losses. To mitigate this effect, loan sales of distressed assets by a trusted loan sale advisor is recommended.
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The coronavirus is having a dire impact on the global economy. It is reaching as far as the U.S. in terms of hits to the U.S. stock market, consumers, and the domestic economy. Financial institutions are taking steps to protect their balance sheets amidst such economic uncertainty.
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Bank mergers have become something of a trend over recent years, and more mergers are likely. As such, a clean balance sheet makes a merger easier, prompting banks to clean their balance sheet now while prices are still high.
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While it has long been assumed that younger consumers don't like or trust big banks, new research suggests that the opposite is true. Big banks and credit unions are still in the game and are still very much in the running to retain current clients and obtain new ones.
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The CECL standard has now been delayed for all but SEC reporting banks according to a new FASB vote, which will have a major impact on mid-sized and large banks but will be delayed until 2023 for others.
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The trucking industry may be humming, but weak companies in the industry that leveraged up in last year's boom are now experiencing difficulty. And credit unions and banks holding these assets may need to consider selling these underperforming assets while the general market is still positive.
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Lenders must be wary of lending on assets that have government regulatory involvement, such as taxi medallions. As such, prudent lending should always be done on an individual basis. Any distressed taxi loans should be dealt with swiftly, and Garnet Capital can help.
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The CFPB will hold its symposium on September 19, 2019, to discuss behavioral economics and how it impacts consumer finances.
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Credit unions saw loan originations tumble over the first few months of 2019, but things have returned to roughly the same level as last year. That said, some loan types have weakened, prompting credit unions to take measures to add to their portfolios.
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Puerto Rico is becoming an attractive area for investment if you're in-the-know about the island, the local laws, and the economy. Is now a good time to set your investment sights on Puerto Rico?
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Niche lending can help banks, credit unions and other lenders diversify their products and income streams. But without proper precautions and measures put in place, they may also find adjusting their portfolios problematic.
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The FASB's CECL standards may be delayed in implementation for certain banks, but that doesn't mean they should delay in making any necessary changes to be prepared for the new accounting standards.
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Artificial intelligence (AI) may be streamlining the lending process for lenders in terms of determining who is creditworthy enough for a loan, but there is a concern that AI may be creating different effects among different classes of applicants.
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Many bank executives believe that consumers may be on the brink of forgoing traditional brick and mortar branches.
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The CFPB proposed new rules recently that is aimed at helping to cut back on the number of collection calls consumers would receive from creditors.
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A new report from J.D. Power shows that customers are sticking with their bricks and mortar banks, despite the prevalence of mobile and new technology.
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The leaders of the biggest banks spent a few hours getting grilled by Congress recently, with their salaries among one of the hot topics discussed.
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Bankruptcies are hitting farmers across the US hard - particularly among those across the Farm Belt in the Midwest - as trade wars, low prices, and increased foreign competition loom large.
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While recent figures show that FinTechs are gaining more of the personal loan market, banks and credit unions can capture more of this business with the right partnerships.
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It's a common misconception that selling loans only makes sense when credit is poor. In reality, banks and credit unions will find benefits to selling certain loans even when credit quality is good.
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Many banks need to scale up to compete with larger banks. Here’s a look at how they’re doing it.
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The new CECL accounting standard may cause banks to change the conditions and terms of their loans. Here’s a look at where things stand.
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Small businesses needing loans are increasingly turning to nonbank lenders. Why? Because banks became more risk-adverse about small business loans after 2008. Banks should partner with nonbank originators to reap the rewards of the latter's increased small business lending.
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More investors are turning toward subprime loans to obtain better yields, for both bonds and whole loans. Currently, subprime loans backed by automobiles offer rates over 6% - about 100% more than the current yield on a 10-year Treasury - according to the Wall Street Journal.
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Banks and credit unions are worried about the potential impact of a required conversion to current and expected credit loss (CECL) accounting from the currently used incurred loss system. But it is not clear whether proposals to modify or delay CECL from the current conversion dates will be successful. Right now, banks will transition on January 1, 2020, and credit unions two years later.<
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Puerto Rico's largest bank turned in strong growth in the just-completed third quarter over year-ago results, which were impacted by Hurricane Maria. The results are a sign of economic recovery on the island, making it attractive for investors.
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Some small banks are either unable or unwilling to invest in digital solutions for their customers. According to one CEO, this could put banks in jeopardy of falling behind in the tech enabling surge as partnerships and M&A activity increases in this sector. A partnership with the right loan sale advisor can help to facilitate much-needed product availability for small banks.
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Puerto Rico was devastated in September 2017 by Hurricane Maria, the worst hurricane in 85 years. But hotels and restaurants have rebuilt and are aggressively courting tourists for the coming year. The tourism industry is responsible for 7% of Puerto Rico's GDP, and its rebound is economic good news for the island and banks who do business with it.
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Banks and credit unions who have outstanding New York City taxi medallion loans are suffering due to the drops in the price of taxi medallions in the wake of disruption from ride-hailing apps such as Uber and Lyft. Many of these financial institutions have closed or been acquired
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Banks have traditionally not been able to offer small, short-term loans with higher interest rates than personal loans or credit cards of the type often dubbed "payday" loans. However, the market is underserved currently. U.S. Bank has recently rolled out a product for this market.
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The economy continues to roar, but it isn’t helping banks in terms of their loan growth. Loans overall and C&I lines continue to experience much weaker growth than a few years ago. Not only that, but promising upticks in loans earlier in the year have now decelerated. Unless a turnaround occurs in the second half of the year, this seems likely to affect small and midsize banks and credit union earnings going forward, and ultimately, their stock prices.
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The Fed has provided strong signals that it will continue to increase interest rates. This suggests that banks should consider purchasing shorter-term assets to gain the best risk/return mix.
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Robust job creation and wage growth was reported in the most recent DoL statistics in August. Both are likely to increase both consumer optimism and borrowing ability going forward, which is good news for financial institutions.
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Banks and fintechs are increasingly forming partnerships to drive business. The predominant forms of partnership are either joint ventures between banks and fintechs or a bank developing an in-house fintech operation. The track record of each, however, indicates that both partnership paradigms can be challenging. Banks may benefit more from innovative recent methods, such as lending to, or purchasing loans from, existing fintech consumer loan platforms
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The chief executive of Royal Bank Canada, Dave McKay, said legacy banks should stop trying to force regulators to stymie Silicon Valley innovators and instead look to improve their own systems to compete.
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It was the summer of 2014 and JPMorgan Chase disclosed it had been the victim of a crippling cyber attack. The breach exposed 83 million accounts, both personal and business, at the nation's largest bank. Now criminal charges have been handed down and significant new details made public about the vast operation.
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While the leaders of financial institutions mostly embraced the bill, critics in the tech sector lambasted the effort as privacy nightmare that won't even stop cyberattacks.
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A banking cybersecurity assessment tool launched this summer by a federal interagency body has sparked worries that the "optional" protocols are becoming anything but voluntary.
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The latest snapshot of the national economy from the Federal Reserve Board shows bank lending rising amid greater consumer spending and a strengthening housing market. The strong dollar, however, has created headwinds in the manufacturing and tourism sectors.
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Three of the nation's largest banks reported continued robust loan growth in the third quarter.
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While banks manage to fend off a greater percentage of cyberattacks than other industries, widespread data breaches outside the financial sector pose a key challenge: How can banks prevent thieves from opening new accounts or accessing existing ones with information stolen from less-secure industries?
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Market watchers see a potentially lucrative upside for the securitization of marketplace-lending backed assets.
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Choosing whether to combine or split the roles has deep implications.
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While Republican candidates are largely staying away from banking issues as they struggle to be heard above the welter of would-be nominees, Democratic hopefuls are to varying degrees talking tough about further financial reforms.
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In the quarter-century before the financial crisis began in 2008, about 164 new banks opened in the United States every year. Since 2011? Roughly four. Total.
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Although credit card issuers remained picky about who gets their plastic, the first quarter saw new charge accounts hit their highest level since 2008.
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There are several banking-related matters on the table, none bigger than Sen. Richard Shelby's bank reform bill.
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Loan balances swelled $185 billion from April to June, helping banks set a record for quarterly revenue.
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More than 80 members of the House are urging the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to put into effect new business loan reporting requirements that became law under the Dodd-Frank Act.
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During the due diligence phase of the merger and acquisition cycle, would-be buyers must learn about the target's loan holdings in detail.
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Big news to hit the real estate sector recently is real estate and rental marketplace Zillow's acquisition of dotloop, a digital transaction management firm. While this is exciting for members of the real estate industry, the pairing will actually have a more widespread impact.
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Across the country, nearly all banks make a significant portion of their income via fees, from overdraft fees to ATM surcharges and more. But, it doesn't have to be this way.
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A court ruling could have an impact on marketplace lending.
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In the current environment, it seems that traditional banks are actually excited about the potential offered by fintech startups.
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Has the Dodd-Frank Act been the death knell for community banks? The answer depends on who you ask.
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There are few trends that have been as popular over the past decade as energy efficiency. From solar panels on rooftops to hybrid vehicles, industries all across the board are getting involved with a "greener" focus.
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Take a drive into town, and the one thing you won't see is a branch of Goldman Sachs. That's because the financial institution has always been about wheeling and dealing on Wall Street, not Main Street.
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How would you like to be paid for saving money? This is the idea that is catching on among U.S. small banks, as the popularity - and legality - of prize-linked savings accounts continues to grow.
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Governing bodies are having a hard time keeping up with the wealth of new fintech startups out there, and that has the OCC making changes.
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Citizens Bank and two of its subsidiaries have been fined more than $34 million for inconsistencies and unfair practices regarding its deposit processing. The fine, which includes compensation to victims, a civil penalty and federal penalties, could have a more widespread effect on other financial institutions around the country.
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While marketplace lending isn't as tightly regulated as traditional lending, some business owners are taking action to reshape this industry.
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Is the traditional target for a refinanced student loan a doctor earning more than $150,000 per year? Or a lawyer several years out of law school? Perhaps not at one time, but more financial institutions are turning to this demographic as they look to grow their customer bases.
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Which company will become the next Uber of banking? If the ride-sharing giant has anything to say about it, it will be them.
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We now live in a sharing economy. From DogVacay and TaskRabbit to Airbnb and Lyft, Internet companies have exploded in growth to provide fast, affordable services to an on-the-go consumer.
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Out of the Dodd-Frank Act came the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and with that power over a wide range of consumer-related services.
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Higher interest rates are going to drown borrowers, right? Rate shock will shock the economic system, right? Poor home equity is going to lead to more delinquent borrowers, no?
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Customer loyalty is what a new startup - ZipCap - is banking on with its version of marketplace lending.
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The second-quarter reports for major financial institutions are in, and the results are mixed bag of good news, bad news and optimism.
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With one small filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the future of marketplace lending, otherwise known as peer-to-peer lending, could hang in the balance.
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Investor, Fed activity following Greece and China market volatility will impact both small and large banks.
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One of the biggest problems with Internet lending has been the lack of regulation. That has changed recently, however, as more regulation is seeping into this sector.
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As JPMorgan makes its shareholders happy, its chief financial officer, Marianne Lake, has her eye on a looming trend in the financial services industry: higher interest rates. Specifically, how higher rates will impact deposit pricing.
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You drop your mail off at the post office, but would you deposit your check at the post office too?
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The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has immense oversight powers over a number of many financial industries, including residential financing and payday lending. However, one area where CFPB purview has lagged behind has been in auto lending.
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Tools like online and mobile banking, as well as the steady decline of brick-and-mortar branches, has many people assuming it is the end of the traditional form of banking.
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Virtual banking has been billed as the new market disruptor to the banking sector. Although these new entrants offer debit transactions and money-tracking software, virtual banks still only offer one-tenth of the options of a full-service bank, according to American Banker.
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The two youngest generations today - millennials and Generation Z - may actually be satisfied with their banks, especially the larger ones. In fact, young adults may not hate banks at all. They could actually like them.
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The California economy hinges on water consumption. Without it, countless businesses could be in financial straits, and this has had an effect on individual industries and the economy as a whole.
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Today's financial regulations are forcing more banks to leave the lending marketplace than ever before, resulting in the rise of nonbank lenders.
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The overdraft fee - from a consumer perspective, these words are dreaded. From the financial institution's perspective, however, the overdraft fee income has been an important part of free checking accounts.
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Overall, online lending has proven to be beneficial for a certain type of borrower, but investors should be aware of the risks involved.
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An opportunity for consumers today could be FICO itself, which has recently announced it is working on a new score that would be catered to underbanked borrowers.
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The mortgage industry has faced substantial criticism following the financial crisis, and many critics and government officials have pounced on the opportunity to disparage this particular sector. While these views have been growing less harsh, those looking to spearhead meaningful reform have encountered numerous challenges, according to American Banker.  
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The banking sector has been benefiting from strong mergers and acquisitions activity, as economic conditions continue to improve and financial institutions look toward consolidation as a means of cutting costs, meeting capital requirements and even diversifying their businesses. 
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While they are frequently identified as being competitors of banks, marketplace lenders have asserted repeatedly that they want to work with these more traditional financial institutions. 
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Home Bancshares recently took an innovative approach to bolstering loan growth, buying nearly $300 million worth of national commercial real estate loans. The Conway, Arkansas-based bank was able to snap up this loan portfolio after Doral Bank's failure, purchasing it from private equity firm J.C. Flowers & Co. 
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As many banks consider partnering with marketplace lenders, they must carefully evaluate each particular alliance to get a strong sense of its potential costs and benefits. Marketplace lenders have been rising in importance, growing a strong customer base and in some cases raising significant sums of money by working with receptive investors. 
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Online lending marketplace Lendio recently raised more than $20 million through a funding round led by Napier Park Financial Partners. South Jordan, Utah-based Lendio, which uses innovative technology to connect small businesses with lenders, plans to use the money to enhance its relationships with lenders, invest in improving its online resources and expand its partnership program. 
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Many banks are making major changes as they take steps to comply with the liquidity coverage ratio, including selling off assets and running off deposits that do little to help them meet the requirement.
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The valuations of technology startups have been surging as hedge funds and mutual funds pour money into this space in an effort to profit from the next big thing. Many institutional investors have taken an interest in technology startups, hoping to select the right ones and then profit when they hold an initial public offering.
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Regional banks have been putting significant effort into either raising the threshold for being deemed systemically important - which currently stands at $50 billion - or scrapping the level completely. 
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Recently, the U.S. Supreme Court heard a consolidated lawsuit that involved whether a secondary lien placed on the asset of a debtor can be reduced to the value of the collateral securing the obligation obligation and reduced to zero if there is no asset coverage. The decision could have broad implications, potentially impacting many bankruptcy proceedings that followed the nationwide housing crisis, according to Inman Magazine. 
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A bill designed to help protect Montana bankers recently passed The Treasure State's House and Senate. Senate Bill 280 was introduced after the Montana Supreme Court ruled in 2014 that borrowers can press legal action in lending disputes on the basis of presumed oral agreements, according to American Banker.
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Loan demand has been rising all over the nation, according to figures provided in the Federal Reserve's March Beige Book. The Fed report revealed that most regions have been enjoying promising economic conditions, and banking activity stood out as a strong point in many cases.
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Puerto Rico's banking industry has undergone some seismic shifts in the aftermath of Doral Bank's failure earlier this year. While this troubled bank entered receivership, several competitors benefited from the situation, bolstering their market share by snapping up its branch locations, loans, deposits and mortgage servicing rights.
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Sterling Bancorp, one of the largest lenders doing business in the payroll lending market, recently acquired Damian Services Corporation, which provides payroll-related services to staffing firms. By making this purchase, Sterling will grow its client base, expand its lending capacity and open up new possibilities to earn fees in specialty finance, according to American Banker.
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Non-banks have been gaining an increasingly large share of the market for FHA-backed mortgage lending, according to a recent study conducted by the American Enterprise Institute's International Center on Housing Risk. These financial institutions, which are outside the reach of bank regulations and capital requirements, have been increasing issuance of these home loans as major banks retreat from this market.
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The peer-to-peer lending market recently benefited from a move by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to revise existing regulations, as this decision gave smaller companies greater ability to raise money and investors more flexibility to participate in this particular industry. 
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PacWest Bancorp recently announced an agreement to purchase Square 1 Financial, Inc., a lender that focuses primarily on the technology industry. Pursuant to this deal, Square 1 bank, owned by Square 1 Financial, will merge into Pacific Western Bank, a Los Angeles subsidiary of PacWest Bancorp.
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Pinnacle Bank recently purchased a minority stake in an online health care lender, and this strategic move should provide the Nashville-based bank with numerous benefits. Pinnacle Bank, a subsidiary of Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc., made this move at a time when traditional banks are facing numerous headwinds and online lending has been experiencing impressive growth. Garnet Capital believes this is a positive trend and is helping other banks and lenders create partnerships.
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While small business lending fell sharply after the financial crisis, there are signs this crucial activity is gaining steam. This development presents banks with new opportunity, but they should know the market has changed significantly, and many non-bank lenders have sprung up to fill the higher demand for small business loans, according to American Banker. 
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While lending activity has grown more conservative since the financial crisis, there is reason to believe this sector is once again running into trouble. More specifically, both auto and student loan debt saw their delinquencies track higher in the fourth quarter, and during the same time, household debt increased.
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America's millennials could potentially represent a huge market for alternative banking, according to the results of the most recent FICO survey. Financial institutions looking to stay abreast of the latest shifts in the rapidly changing banking industry might benefit substantially from gathering further detail on these customer preferences. 
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Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Richard Cordray took a minute to delve into some of the agency's current concerns, as well as the disagreements its staff are having. 
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Community banks need to either innovate or face extinction in the current environment, according to several industry participants who spoke at the American Bankers Association's National Conference for Community Bankers. 
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Regulators shut down Doral Bank on Friday, Feb. 27, after the financial institution faced a string of challenges including a dispute surrounding a tax refund, government investigations and sharp declines in stock prices. The Office of the Commissioner of Financial Institutions of Puerto Rico announced in a statement Friday that it had appointed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation receiver. 
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Many banks have been focusing on deposits in the current environment, building up these resources instead of taking on additional credit risk. This approach reflects a more conservative stance, as financial institutions are unsure when the Federal Reserve will opt to push its benchmark interest rates higher. 
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Major banks, already facing a tough environment, have been encountering an additional headwind stemming from the dollar's sharp rally. The currency's recent appreciation, along with proposed capital guidelines, could make US banks seem bigger relative to their European counterparts. 
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Doral Financial's problems only seem to be getting worse. While the Puerto Rico-based holding company was able to improve its financial position late last year by attaining a legal victory, it has been encountering rising pressure from regulators, according to American Banker. 
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Mergers and acquisitions activity involving banks has been increasing, and this momentum has grown to include not only smaller banks in the U.S., but also midsize and international financial institutions. 
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Banks could run into challenges generating revenue growth as their ability to tap into loan-loss reserves deteriorates. 
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Subprime lender Santander Consumer USA Holdings (SCUSA) recently announced a smaller provision for credit losses amid otherwise general concerns that deteriorating lending standards could impact credit quality. The company cut this reserve to $560 million in the fourth quarter of 2014 from $770 million during the prior period.
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Lending Club recently announced a partnership with Alibaba Group whereby the peer-to-peer lender will provide small businesses with lines of credit for purchasing Chinese goods through the e-commerce giant's online marketplace. 
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Bank of America recently moved a $2.7 billion student loan portfolio to hold-for-sale status, chief financial officer Bruce Thompson told analysts during a conference call in January. 
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While many bemoan the challenges less-experienced borrowers face, San Francisco-based startup Earnest has been using an innovative new approach to assess their creditworthiness.
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BlackRock is planning to securitize loans purchased via internet origination channels. 
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New York Community Bancorp, Inc. has been generating many benefits by selling assets, keeping its balance sheet below the $50 billion mark and improving its financial results in the process. 
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The U.S. economy encountered some challenges during the fourth quarter, as weakness abroad and tepid business spending combined to limit fourth-quarter growth.
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While many banks have bemoaned the industry regulations created by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, smaller financial institutions in particular could benefit from the government agency's latest mortgage proposal.
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The recent announcement that Los Angeles-based City National has agreed to be acquired by Royal Bank of Canada could be a game changer for other banks in the region, providing them with stronger opportunities to find clients or buyers.
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Two groups of peer-to-peer consumer loans collectively worth more than $300 million recently obtained ratings from Moody's Investors Service, which represents a first because major credit ratings agencies have never before evaluated P2P securitizations.
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A handful of innovative banking startups have been working on creating lending algorithms that consider more than the traditional variables such as one's credit score. Amid this push, companies are developing risk evaluation methods that account for how much time an applicant spends reading terms and conditions or whether they only use capital letters when filling out forms, The New York Times reported.
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Banks are striving to generate loan growth amid stiff competition and low interest rates. At the same time, analysts and shareholders are pressuring these financial institutions to reign in their expenses where possible, according to American Banker.
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Many banks have been reporting falling interest income in the current environment of low rates and tight competition.
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Banks have had a hard time generating satisfactory earnings growth lately, and this difficulty could easily continue in 2015. Banks both large and small have suffered these challenges, as the major financial institutions and the regional ones have been reporting lackluster earnings so far this year. Legal costs and compressed loan margins are the major drags for the larger banks.  Community banks are also feeling the pinch in generating good quality assets.
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U.S. economic conditions continue to improve at a time when the nation is benefiting from increased growth, falling energy costs and sustained job creation.
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The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau recently proposed a system that would help academic institutions enjoy greater visibility into the products and services that banks are offering students, according to a statement released Jan. 14. 
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U.S. economic conditions have been steadily improving, and this development has helped bolster the performance of major banks such as Wells Fargo, whose executives have been rather vocal about how much faith they have in the nation's recovery. 
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The Swiss National Bank eliminated its cap on the euro-franc exchange rate Jan. 15, at a time when the global currency markets are experiencing sharp volatility and central banks across the world are using increasingly divergent monetary policy.
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While many U.S. consumers have been benefiting significantly from sharply dropping oil prices, they may find they have even more money in their pockets after the Federal Housing Administration's recent decision to reduce its annual premiums. 
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Fintech startup Larky has been taking an innovative approach with its mobile applications, marketing them directly to banks so they can be used to provide consumers with discounts and offers from local stores.
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The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has been quite active in recent years, and there is no sign that this trend will stop in 2015.
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Non-bank lender Progreso Financiero recently announced plans to change its name to Oportun - based on the Spanish word for opportunity - to reflect the value it provides to underserved Hispanic borrowers.
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The banking industry is encountering various disruptive forces - including stiff regulations, the proliferation of online lending and innovative new lending activities - that bankers should monitor if they want to capitalize on existing opportunities.
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American Banker recently named marketplace lending its Innovation of the Year.
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Brazil's payments market has been growing rapidly, and this expansion has combined with several other factors to lay the foundation for a potential surge in mobile payments, technology expert Bethan Cowper wrote in American Banker.
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Billionaire investor George Soros has been laying the foundation so he can back peer-to-peer lending, a burgeoning industry that is making greater use of more traditional funding methods in an effort to reduce lending costs. 
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While headlines have been filled with subjects about the rising cost of college education, the financial challenges of students are becoming less severe, a handful of reports stated recently.
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Many banks have been encountering challenges in their efforts to originate high-quality loans, but have been taking steps to compensate for this situation.
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Ally Financial Inc. reported strong auto lending in the third quarter, and has predicted this success will continue, reducing the money it has set aside for loan losses even amid stiff competition and concerns that used car values will decline in the final quarter of the year.
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Distressed loan sale programs can help out homeowners, taxpayers and government organizations, but to generate these benefits, they must be set up in the right way, Sarah Edelman and Julia Gordon, who work for the Center for American Progress, wrote in a recent American Banker opinion piece.
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While some banks may feel challenged by their constantly-changing environment, the situation grants them an opportunity to better their reputation and stand out from the competition, two experts wrote recently in an American Banker opinion piece.
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The legal fees plaguing major banks continue to climb higher, and nobody knows when these financial institutions will get past these challenges.
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Sterling Bancorp and Hudson Valley Holding Corp. announced a definitive merger agreement on Nov. 5, which would create a larger combined entity catering to consumers and small - to medium-sized businesses in the New York metropolitan area.
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As auto lending activity strengthens across the country, banks have been viewing it with fresh eyes, looking to this particular activity as an opportunity where they can potentially benefit from low default rates, attractive rates, short duration and significant demand.
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In an effort to generate desired results amid sharp competition, many big banks are focusing on prime auto lending.
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Earlier this fall, prominent members of different interest groups announced the creation of the Wealth Building Home Loan, a mortgage specifically designed to help low - to moderate-income borrowers accumulate equity.
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U.S. Bancorp CEO Richard Davis has been offering some fairly rosy views of the economy, predicting that growth will accelerate sharply next year.
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The revenue banks are generating from customer-account fees has dropped sharply, stemming from changes in consumer behavior and new regulations created to protect account holder interests.
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The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency recently published final risk management and governance guidelines for major financial institutions, giving them different expected timelines for compliance based on their size.
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Doral Financial, holding company for Doral Bank, prevailed in its recent legal battle with Puerto Rico's Treasury Department, which involved a disputed tax refund.
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As the real estate market continues to strengthen, investors are clamoring to get their hands on securities backed by pools of nonperforming residential mortgages.
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The value of many assets around the world - including real estate, stocks and bonds - has been rising, and several market participants have warned they have grown inflated and approach bubble status.
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Commercial lending has improved steadily over the last several years, but this recovery has certainly encountered some obstacles along the way.
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Housing prices remain elevated amid current supply-demand fundamentals. This, along with tighter credit, may be keeping new buyers out of the market and slowing new home sales.
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Banks are on a mission to increase their loan income, and their desire to meet this objective has helped fuel mergers and acquisitions.
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Banks could generate more revenue by adding P2P originations to their branch originations, according to a study recently released by research firm Cognizant.
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Subprime auto lending has recently experienced a sharp uptick, and the robust activity has provoked warnings that a bubble is forming.
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Credit union lending ramped up in May and June, according to recent reports from the Credit Union National Association.
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JPMorgan Chase recently caused a stir by announcing that utilization rates for its commercial credit lines moved higher in the first half of this year.
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The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau recently provided guidance for mortgage brokers that want to operate using a mini-correspondent lender model, outlining the questions it uses to evaluate these industry participants to determine whether they meet the definition of mini-correspondent.
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As a result of hitting a critical point in its development, the market for Federal Family Education Loan Program loan sales may soon enjoy a sharp rise in activity.
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Bank mergers and acquisitions have surged lately, as the industry struggles to overcome numerous headwinds including a challenging compliance environment, higher capital requirements and the proliferation of alternative lending.
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New financial product structures are growing in availability, and a great deal of the finance industry's innovation centers around this trend, former Citigroup chief executive Vikram Pandit recently told American Banker. Amid this situation, Pandit highlighted a key opportunity.
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The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency recently took action to clarify best practices surrounding debt sales when it issued guidelines on Aug. 4.
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Lending Club, a major peer-to-peer lender, recently announced impressive second quarter figures, reporting that it facilitated $1 billion in new credit during the period.
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U.S. auto lending warmed up in the first quarter, as the total loans of banks and thrifts climbed higher and delinquencies declined.
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Concerned that traditional underwriting methods are leaving some would-be borrowers behind, peer-to-peer lender Upstart has responded by developing a unique process to vet credit applicants.
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Loan sales have been picking up steam in the U.S., as the rising interest in home equity loans and non-performing loan securitizations helps increase the value of such transactions.
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Sam Hodges, the CEO of innovative P2P lender Funding Circle USA, recently sat down for an interview with writer David Gustin of Spend Matters Network.
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Property tax bills are on the rise, and their steady climb has been causing stress for the already-troubled mortgage market.
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In a recent report, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency warned banks about the credit risk that is steadily accumulating because of their willingness to provide loans easily.
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Certain mortgage lenders have been following more stringent requirements than those created by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in an effort to ensure compliance.
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LendingClub Corp., the largest peer-to-peer lender in the U.S., has started preparing for an initial public offering, selecting major investment banks Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. to lead the sale, individuals familiar with the situation told The Financial Times.
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Nigel Morris, who co-founded financial services firm Capital One, recently joined the board of Prosper Marketplace, the parent company of peer-to-peer online loan marketplace Prosper.
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San Francisco-based startup Affirm Inc. is harnessing an innovative new approach to lending, which some believe could potentially disrupt loan markets as we know them.
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Many consumers have lackluster feelings about the economy or their household income, according to the results of a recent Fannie Mae poll.
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One new initiative that is making waves in the credit markets is Square Capital, which lets small businesses secure capital in exchange for a claim on their future revenue stream.
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Younger people are more likely to consider alternative banking, according to the results of a recent Accenture survey.
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Regulators have been intensifying their scrutiny of banks, and more specifically the relationships these institutions have with their vendors.
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The federal government recently announced plans to make mortgage lending standards less stringent, hoping that doing so will help jump-start the housing market.
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The U.S. Treasury Department recently announced the outcome of its latest auction of 10-year notes.
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