Banks rescue suicide billionaire's interests
Two days after the suicide of one of Germany's richest men -- who was apparently despondent over financial troubles -- banks agreed to rescue his business holdings, the companies said in a statement.

Few banks and companies have used accounting rule change, EU finds
Most European banks and blue-chip companies are not using looser accounting rules that would have allowed them to revise upward the value of complex investments, which depreciated during the financial crisis, a group of European Union regulators said Wednesday.

U.S. Banks Offer Mortgage Rates Below 5% as Fed Buys Securities
Jan. 8 (Bloomberg) -- The largest U.S. banks are starting to offer fixed home loans below 5 percent after the government began buying mortgage securities to bolster the housing market.

Banks May Need to Raise Fresh Capital In ?09, Analyst Says
U.S. banks will have to raise fresh capital in 2009, and a sharp increase in credit-rating downgrades on mortgage-related securities will lead to further stresses on the companies? capital, according to prominent banking analyst Meredith Whitney.

Banks Agree to Extend Credit Lines to Talbots
Talbots shares jumped 24 percent on Tuesday, a day after the women?s apparel retailer said it entered into agreements with three banks to secure a total $150 million in committed lines of credit.

Elizabeth Banks?s Latest Role: L?Oreal Spokesperson
Todd Williamson/WireImage L?Oreal?s iconic ads already feature some of Hollywood?s most gorgeous women, including Eva Longoria Parker, Beyonce, Scarlett Johansson and Penelope Cruz. And now the beauty brand is adding one more star to the ranks ? Elizabeth Banks. For her part, the W actress, who will star in L?Oreal print and TV spots [...]

Chinese banks' impaired corporate loan ratio may rise 204 bps
China's major banks have sufficient financial strength to absorb the stiff challenges that are likely to mark 2009, provided the government doesn't interfere too much in their lending processes, said

FDIC issues list of banks examined for CRA compliance
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has issued its list of state nonmember banks recently evaluated for compliance with the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA). The list covers evaluation ra

U.S. Banks Need to Raise More Capital, Whitney Says (Update2)
Jan. 7 (Bloomberg) -- U.S. banks need to raise more capital after downgrades of mortgage-backed securities surged in the last quarter, Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. analyst Meredith Whitney said.

Police suspect same woman robbed Corvallis, Roseburg banks
Photo courtesy of Corvallis Police DepartmentCorvallis Police believe this woman may have robbed two banks in two towns over the past five weeksThe Corvallis Police Department is asking for help finding a woman suspected of robbing banks in two towns...

Small Banks To Soon Have TARP Access - Sources
WASHINGTON -(Dow Jones)- Thousands of small, privately-held U.S. banks could have access to the $700 billion financial rescue program within "days, not weeks", according to sources familiar with the matter.

Councilman Decries Lack Of Progress On Banks Project
The much-anticipated Banks Project is under way but one City Council member is saying that progress is too slow and already behind schedule.

Basketball: Riverside outduels Banks in double OT
HOMER -- It took two overtimes, but the Riverside Military Academy basketball team pulled out an 87-85 win over Banks County on Wednesday in Homer.

Banks may freeze credit to Satyam
Banks, which are believed to have exposure to the beleaguered IT major, Satyam Computer Services, today said that they would look at options to stop sanctioning additional credit lines to the company and seek an auditor?s explanation from it.

Banks ?run system of virtual extortion?
IRISH banks were accused by the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA) yesterday of operating a system of ?virtual extortion? on farm loans.

Banks to sell UK interests of German mogul Adolf Merckle
Banks moved swiftly yesterday to put up for sale the UK operations of Adolf Merckle, the German billionaire who committed suicide on Monday night amid the collapse of his empire.

Banks to Face Greater Scrutiny in 2009
As the new administration moves to stabilize the financial sector, IT will play a key role in enabling banks to provide the required transparency and accountability.

Christopher & Banks swings to a loss in Q3
Christopher & Banks Corp. swung to a loss in the third quarter, its earnings weighed down by a charge tied to the closure of its Acorn stores and slow sales. (CBK)

Synovus Shows Why Banks Aren't Lending
Synovus' increase to its fourth-quarter loan-loss provision illustrates why banks have failed to use government bailout money to begin making loans again.

Sarkozy Says France to Provide More Capital to Banks (Update1)
Jan. 7 (Bloomberg) -- French President Nicolas Sarkozy said he?s willing to provide more capital to banks because he expects a 10.5 billion-euro ($14.3 billion) injection last month won?t be enough to see them through the global credit crunch.