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Buying Discover would make Capital One bigger — and give it a payments network

Feb 20, 2024
There are only four such networks for credit cards, and building a new one can take decades.
Buying a payments network is a lot easier than starting one, says Andrew Davidson with Comperemedia.
Scott Olson/Getty Images

Why does a bank sell your mortgage?

Feb 6, 2024
Most are sold into the secondary market, which increases liquidity and makes it easier to get a mortgage at a lower interest rate.
Today, upward of 70% of mortgages are sold into the secondary market, typically bundled with others to create a mortgage-back security. It can be annoying, though, when your servicer changes.
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Higher interest rates and troubled commercial real estate are piling pressure on regional banks

Jan 22, 2024
We'll be getting a sense of how they're doing as they report quarterly results this week.
A view inside a Silicon Valley Bank location in March 2023. Since the collapse of SVB, a lot of small and mid-sized banks have tried to stop depositors from pulling out their money by raising interest rates on deposits.
Noah Berger/AFP via Getty Images

The business lending environment is tough right now — especially for people of color

Jan 15, 2024
The Biden administration has tried to make it easier for business owners to get loans. But high interest rates are a challenge.
Nicole Davis, who owns an accounting firm, said her Black business clients typically have a harder time qualifying for loans, often because they lack generational wealth.
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Schools' creditworthiness could be challenged by new costs, report says

Jun 16, 2022
Teachers demanding higher pay is one example of new costs. That could make it harder for schools to borrow money, a new report says.
For large investments, schools can turn to the debt markets to raise money. But they're also facing rising costs, which could hurt their ability to borrow.
Jon Cherry/Getty Images

How the war in Ukraine is affecting debt troubles for developing countries

Apr 25, 2022
Developing nations see worsening debt challenges due to the war in Ukraine.
Above, a fruit vendor waits for customers in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Higher import prices for foods are putting pressure on the currencies of developing countries, including Sri Lanka.
Ishara S. Kodikara/AFP via Getty Images

Commercial lending could rebound this year

Jan 14, 2022
Business lending has been sluggish throughout the pandemic. But there are signs that commercial lending is starting to pick up again.
Some businesses are currently taking advantage of low interest rates for loans.
Justin Sullivan via Getty Images

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Some banks are lending less in an uncertain economy

Jan 21, 2021
Many businesses are nervous about borrowing right now. And banks aren't earning much on the loans they are making.
The lending decline for some banks comes despite the fact that interest rates are at near-record lows.
Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images

Fed pandemic lending programs a sticking point in COVID relief talks

Dec 18, 2020
Some Senate Republicans want a new COVID relief bill to prohibit the Fed from restarting pandemic lending programs.
The Fed programs include Main Street business loans and purchases of corporate and municipal bonds. Pictured: Fed Chair Jerome Powell at a House committee hearing on Dec. 2, 2020.
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Why big banks are reporting better-than-expected earnings during the pandemic downturn

Oct 14, 2020
Quarterly earnings for big banks like Citigroup and JPMorgan Chase are beating expectations thanks to a soaring stock market.
Citigroup's net income of $3.2 billion, or $1.40 per share, topped analyst expectations for the third quarter.
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