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Editors Column

Sep 01

2009

Please, no more “czars”

Posted by Bill Streeter in Editors Column

“Excessive compensation” is a close cousin to “obscene profits.” Neither is realistically definable. They are legitimate terms. It just depends which side of the paycheck you’re on.

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Aug 01

2009

Obama plan won’t vacation

Posted by Bill Streeter in Editors Column

In the closing weeks of July, House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank tipped his hat to the industry by acknowledging at a press conference that the strength of the banking industry’s opposition to the proposed Consumer Financial Protection Agency, a major component of the Obama Administration’s massive regulatory restructuring plan, had surprised him. He postponed markup of the CFPA legislation until September, in part to allow supporters of the new agency time to counter bankers’ strong objections.

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Jul 01

2009

Dateline: Twitterverse

Posted by Bill Streeter in Editors Column

Britney Spears is following me, or, rather ABA Banking Journal, on Twitter.

Commentary: By Steve Cocheo, Executive Editor

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Jun 01

2009

Turning point for credit cards

Posted by Bill Streeter in Editors Column

The industry just got a second slap in the face over credit cards—this one from Congress. The new legislation imposes all sorts of restrictions regarding pricing, rates, and practices, much of it already covered by the rules issued by the Federal Reserve late last year. It looks like Congress and the Administration wanted to get credit for helping consumers on an issue that has been fanned to red hot by media attention and consumer activists.

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May 01

2009

Too big to manage? Not so

Posted by Bill Streeter in Editors Column

The comment was made recently by an elected official that perhaps “too big to fail” isn’t the point, but “too big to manage” is.

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Apr 01

2009

Enough already

Posted by Bill Streeter in Editors Column

“This too shall pass,” is a wise and comforting saying, but by no means does it imply simply waiting for a flood of trouble to recede. All floods recede in time, but you’ve got to do everything in your power to keep them from overwhelming you. Sometimes you win, sometimes not, but you never win if you don’t try.

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Mar 01

2009

Bad ideas you must fight now

Posted by Bill Streeter in Editors Column

In recent weeks one new idea, one new law, and one existing practice have moved to the forefront. All have the potential to drastically alter the banking industry as we know it.

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Feb 01

2009

A time of testing

Posted by Bill Streeter in Editors Column

January, a difficult month in the best of times, was particularly doleful this year. Not even the presidential inauguration nor the heroics of U.S. Airways’ Capt. Chesley Sullenberger could thaw the country’s economic (and meteorological) chill for long.

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Jan 01

2009

Why a lending surge won't work

Posted by Bill Streeter in Editors Column

Congress has become increasingly strident in insisting that banks that received capital from Treasury lend that money.

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Dec 01

2008

Oh, those boring banks

Posted by Bill Streeter in Editors Column

Boring is popular, right now.
Whether you’re talking investments, cars, or real estate deals, “slick,” “glitzy,” “high-powered” are all in the doghouse for the moment. They’ll be back, of course. But for now they’re in hiding.

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