For the third time this year, a Snohomish County-based community bank has been reprimanded by the federal government.

First Financial Bancorp has acquired three banking centers from Irwin Financial Corp.

Chase bank said Thursday it would accept government IOUs from California through July 10 to help its customers as the state deals with a financial crisis.

Federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty answers questions after a meeting with his provincial and territorial counterparts in Mississauga, Ont.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Bank of America Corp. said Thursday its board has authorized roughly $713 million in dividend payments to the U.S. government under the troubled asset relief program.

Despite huge losses, Western banks have retained their dominance of the rankings due to massive capital raising. But what will the future hold? Geraldine Lambe reports Research by Valentina Lorenzon, Cecile Sourbes and Charles Piggott

Mizuho Financial Group Inc. , Japana s third-largest bank by market value, will raise as much as 655 billion yen from selling shares after local and overseas investments depleted capital.

Fitch Ratings has cut its rating on regional banker Whitney Holding Corp. citing its nonperforming assets, much of them related to Florida real estate.

The third quarter is starting on a positive note after a mixed bag of economic data.

Citigroup Inc has increased interest rates on up to 15 million U.S. credit card accounts just months before curbs on such rises come into effect, the Financial Times reported citing people close to the situation.

The Associated Press 1 comment Three international organizations canceled $1.2 billion of Haiti’s debt Tuesday, freeing up millions of dollars each year for the deeply impoverished Caribbean nation that is beset by humanitarian crises.

CNB Financial Corp. of Worcester has signed a $25 million merger agreement with United Financial Bancorp of West Springfield.

Singapore: Want the good life despite the dire economy? Head east, according to a survey showing some of the world’s highest-paid expatriates live in Asia and the Middle East.

A wealthy accountant who is the first U.S. citizen charged in a wide-ranging tax probe of Swiss banking giant UBS AG pleaded guilty Thursday to filing a false tax return.

A.I.G. reduces debt to Federal Reserve Bank of New York by $25 billion.

American International Group Inc. said Thursday it will reduce outstanding federal loans by $25 billion by giving the government a preferred stake in two units that will be spun off from the insurance giant.

Despite huge losses, Western banks have retained their dominance of the rankings due to massive capital raising. But what will the future hold? Geraldine Lambe reports Research by Valentina Lorenzon, Cecile Sourbes and Charles Piggott

Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc. , Japana s second-biggest bank by market value, aims to raise as much as 923 billion yen in the biggest share sale in Japan since 2001.

Citi and the IFC are launching the partnership as part of a $50 billion global trade finance initiative announced by the World Bank in April.

Aloha Airlines and two Hawaii banks have agreed to pay a total of $10.5 million to make up for losses suffered by the bankrupt airline’s three pension plans, federal labor officials said Thursday.

A HOME loan broker has warned borrowers the nation’s banks are more likely to increase interest rates than lower them.

One of the premier micro cap newsletters available alerts investors to stocks all over the market; however our primary focus is small cap and micro cap companies poised for explosive movement.

The Obama administration on Wednesday appointed a compensation czar who will have broad discretion to set the pay for 175 top executives at seven of the nation’s largest companies, which received hundreds of billions of dollars in federal assistance to survive .

The mother of a Massachusetts teenager says students on a school trip to the U.S. Holocaust Museum heard several gunshots before they were evacuated from the building.

Citigroup Inc. on Wednesday launched a series of public exchange offers that will effectively give the government a 34 percent stake in the troubled bank.

Swedish central bank borrows a 3bn from the European Central Bank as Latvian emergency causes ripple effect People wait for the unemployment office to open in Riga, Latvia.

Strange dreams dominate this episode, which finds Frasier wed to Daphne, now a vociferous eater; Niles a carefree philanderer, dallying with bikini-clad repairwomen; and Martin a dashing hoofer, performing with Ronee .

Since unfettered risk taking has been roundly criticised for its role in the financial crisis, many may be surprised that at some banks, prop trading is right back in the mix. What role will proprietary trading play in the new model bank? Writer Michelle Price

In the wake of the crisis almost everything to do with banks is being questioned - regulation, business models, corporate governance and ownership. Some fear that once burned, shareholders will be twice shy and may avoid bank stocks and bank debt altogether. State ownership is deemed a temporary measure but have private investors fallen out of love with banks? Writer Geraldine Lambe

Like their investment banking counterparts, private bankers are also facing an identity crisis as the failure to protect clients’ wealth threatens to tarnish the industry and inhibit future growth. There are many different responses. Writer Philip Alexander

Igor Finogenov, EDB’s executive chairman
The importance of small regional development banks in emerging Europe has surged as credit ratings decline and global commercial banks cut back project and trade finance. Writer Philip Alexander

Tamil expats protest in Washington, DC
As Sri Lanka’s civil war ends, domestic and global banks are eyeing potential stable investments in a country that has until now attracted a great deal of caution from financiers as a consequence of its long-running conflict. Writer Eric Ellis in Colombo

Ireland’s finance minister has divided opinion with his ‘bad bank’ plan
As Ireland reels from its banking woes, a fierce debate is under way as to whether the government’s ‘bad bank’ solution will be enough to open a route to recovery or whether widespread bank nationalisation is a more realistic option. Writer Philippa Maister

The global recession has elevated payments processing to near the top of bank chiefs’ priority lists, but the industry is going through a fundamental structural change that could lead to a slump in revenues and soaring business costs. Writer Charlie Corbett

With the panic subsiding fast, Brazil’s equity markets have staged an astonishing turnaround allowing canny investment banks to find their feet in the country again. Writer John Rumsey

Innovative sharia-compliant products are sparking global interest, and in the constrained financial climate they are catering to customers’ growing risk aversion. Writer James Gavin

Left to right: Noah Bulkin and John Lynch Merrill Lynch’s orchestration of the EDF purchase of British Energy was one of the most complex and drawn-out deals of its kind ever undertaken. Writer Edward Russell-Walling

Standing strong: Kuwait’s financial system is bearing the brunt of the credit crunch well, although political tensions are clouding the country’s future prospects
Tension between Kuwait’s ruling government and elected parliament are hampering policy formation and intensifying uncertainty as the economy gets back on its feet. Will the new parliament elected last month change the situation? Writer Stephen Timewell

David Thompson - Barbados’ prime minister
Unimpressed by the lack of representation for the world’s smaller nations at the G-20 summit in London in April, Barbados’ prime minister David Thompson took it upon himself to visit the city and tell the world of the plight of his country and others in the Caribbean. Writer Hugh O’ Shaughnessy

The Obama administration plans to announce as soon as today that some of the nation’s largest banks can repay billions in federal aid, but some officials caution that the show of progress is being underwritten by multiple layers of less visible government support.

Broadway’s Tonys seemed a family affair this year, with an outpouring of generosity from winners to losers despite the domination of the evening by “Billy Eliot,” which won 10 awards, and one actor bringing his wife to the stage to stand by him while he accepted his prize.

BlackRock Inc is trying to clinch a deal for a Barclays unit, but Bank of New York Mellon could step in with an offer for Barclays Global Investors if the talks drag on, the Financial Times reported on Sunday.

Justice Clarence Thomas took in more than $300,000 in royalties for his autobiography last year, far more than he earned as a member of the Supreme Court.

US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, after “stress testing” 19 banks, declared in early May that Americans can be confident in the banks’ stability and resilience.

The head of Russia’s Sberbank says the bank does not intend to hold on to a 35% stake in European car maker Opel in the long-term and could sell it on to a Russian investor.

UBS AG , Switzerlanda s largest bank, recommended unsuitable investments to clients who bought securities underwritten by Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc., New Hampshire securities regulators said.

NEW YORK a ‘ U.S. stock futures moved higher Friday as investors hoped the government’s tally on job losses in May would provide further evidence that the economy is healing.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp is aiming at a shake-up of Citigroup Inc’s top management, including replacing Chief Executive Vikram Pandit, the Wall Street Journal said, citing people familiar with the matter.

Fifth Third Bancorp has sold $1 billion worth of its stock. The money will help the bank meet a federal order to raise $1.1 billion in capital.

Since unfettered risk taking has been roundly criticised for its role in the financial crisis, many may be surprised that at some banks, prop trading is right back in the mix. What role will proprietary trading play in the new model bank? Writer Michelle Price

In the wake of the crisis almost everything to do with banks is being questioned - regulation, business models, corporate governance and ownership. Some fear that once burned, shareholders will be twice shy and may avoid bank stocks and bank debt altogether. State ownership is deemed a temporary measure but have private investors fallen out of love with banks? Writer Geraldine Lambe

Like their investment banking counterparts, private bankers are also facing an identity crisis as the failure to protect clients’ wealth threatens to tarnish the industry and inhibit future growth. There are many different responses. Writer Philip Alexander

Igor Finogenov, EDB’s executive chairman
The importance of small regional development banks in emerging Europe has surged as credit ratings decline and global commercial banks cut back project and trade finance. Writer Philip Alexander

Tamil expats protest in Washington, DC
As Sri Lanka’s civil war ends, domestic and global banks are eyeing potential stable investments in a country that has until now attracted a great deal of caution from financiers as a consequence of its long-running conflict. Writer Eric Ellis in Colombo

The Dow Jones industrial average is adding Travelers Cos. and Cisco Systems Inc., dropping Citigroup Inc.

Area jobless rate dips to 11.4% The jobless rate in the Triangle held steady at 8.8 percent last month.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel smiles during a press conference in Berlin, Saturday, May 30, 2009.

The Greene County Sheriff’s department says a small fixed-wing plane crashed Sunday afternoon in Greene County, just outside city limits.

SIGNS of stabilisation in the global economy should convince the Reserve Bank of Australia to leave official interest rates unchanged at its board meeting next week.

In the fourth of The Banker’s Masterclass series, Deutsche Bank’s head of cash management, financial institutions, for Germany, Austria and central Europe, Dean Sposito, and Deutsche Bank’s head of cash management, financial institutions, for northern Europe, Matt Tuck, talk about how they are helping their clients to navigate the crisis and position themselves for a potential upturn. Writer Charlie Corbett
Dean Sposito, Head of cash management, financial institutions, for Germany, Austria, Central Europe, Deutsche BankMatt Tuck, Head of cash management, financial institutions, for Northern Europe, Deutsche Bank

CNB Financial Corp., the parent of Worcester’s Commonwealth National Bank , says a third bank has entered the race to acquire the bank and that it will indeed discuss the $23.4 million acquisition proposal from United Financial Bancorp Inc.

Target Corp. shareholders re-elected the retailera s existing directors, rejecting a slate nominated by hedge-fund manager William Ackman after two months marked by dueling claims.

Global rating agency, Moody’s on Friday placed the ratings of 13 Indian lenders, including State Bank of India and ICICI Bank, on review for possible downgrade.

US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, who makes his first trip to Beijing Sunday, will exploit his early links with China to steer relations with the Asian giant under President Barack Obama’s watch.

For the past year, banks have raised credit card rates to levels that sparked consumer outcry, regulatory scrutiny and congressional action.