Banking Law Prof Blog: Academic

Home -> Law Blog Directory -> Academic Blogs

OR PHONE (866) 635-1838 for Bankruptcy Help, (866) 635-6190 for Divorce,
(866) 635-2689 for Personal Injury or (866) 635-9402 for Criminal Defense

Find a Local Lawyer

Bankruptcy (866) 635-1838
Divorce (866) 635-6190
Personal Injury (866) 635-2689
Criminal Defense (866) 635-9402

Academic

Banking Law Prof Blog

A Member of the Law Professor Blogs Network

Post Frequency: 4.3/day

Last Entry: March 31, 2011 at 14:13:05

IRS Stats

Posted on April 14, 2008
Today's WSJ carries an article worth noting on Page B3: "IRS Corporate Tax Audits Fall," by Jesse Drucker. Surprisingly, the rate at which the IRS audits large corporations hit a 20-year low in 2007. The audit rate for small businesses,...

Economic News - Bad to Worse

Posted on April 14, 2008
Thanks to Sally Thompson for this intriguing look at the question, "Are Bernanke's Hands Tied? -- Eight Reasons Why the U.S. May Be in Worse Trouble Than You Think." Link: http://www.currencytrading.net/2008/are-bernankes-hands-tied-8-reasons-the-us-may-be-in-worse-trouble-than-you-think/ (ag) April 14, 2008, in Economy

Excessive Executive Compensation

Posted on April 09, 2008
All the scoop on current issues in Executive Compensation: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/06/business/06comp.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=executive+compensation&st=nyt&oref=slogin (ag) April 9, 2008, in Economy

OCC's Views on FHA Housing Stabilization & Homeownership Retention Act of 2008

Posted on April 09, 2008
Comptroller John Dugan presented the agency's views on the FHA Housing Stabilization and Homeownership Act of 2008 before Congress today. This is basically a voluntary loan workout program with the lender taking a write-down and the borrower getting a refinanced...

To access this complete feed in the blog feed reader login or register for free.

Housing Bubble? What Bubble?

Posted on April 07, 2008
Alan Greenspan denies all. He claims that "the U.S. bubble was close to median world experience and the evidence that monetary policy added to the bubble is statistically very fragile." He makes this disclaimer with a straight face, although under...

Credit Default Swaps -- and other issues relating to the Subprime Mortgage Collapse Explained

Posted on April 04, 2008
Yesterday, NPR interviewed Law Professor Michael Greenberger, who provided an explanation of the complex derivatives, such as credit default swaps, which are not transparent and, as a result, create a "shadow" economic impact which we still can't fully evaluate...

When the U.S. Sneezes - Effect of U.S. Financial Markets Problems in Latin America

Posted on April 04, 2008
Federal Reserve Governor Randall Krozner delivered a speech today highlighting an aspect of global economic issues we don't often see reported these days because we're so focused on our own U.S. troubles. Link to speech to the Annual Meeting of...

Warren Buffett Comments on the Subprime Mortgage Lending Crisis

Posted on April 03, 2008
Excerpt from Warren Buffett's current Letter to Berkshire Hathaway Shareholders: "Some major financial institutions have, however, experienced staggering problems because they engaged in the ?weakened lending practices? I described in last year?s letter...

The "R" Word

Posted on April 03, 2008
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke finally said it. He is quoted in today's WSJ as testifying before Congress' Joint Economic Committee on Wednesday that, "A recession is possible." Of course, a rose by any other name would smell . ....

Revamping the US Financial Institution Regulatory System

Posted on April 03, 2008
Everyone's in the midst of reviewing the Paulson Report but here's a viewpoint we don't see adequately expressed in that report: How does federal agency dependence on charter revenue and the power that flows from number and asset size of...

Enron & Jeff Skilling - Still in the News

Posted on April 02, 2008
Today's Wall Street Journal has a short "Today's Agenda" item at the bottom of page one, letting us know that: "A court will weigh overturning the conviction of Jeffrey Skilling, the government's only unalloyed courtroom victory in its Enron probe."....

Alphonso Jackson - Fraud Fallout at a Bad Time

Posted on April 01, 2008
Just when plates are full-to-overflowing with housing-related issues, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Alphonso Jackson announced his resignation yesterday so that he can "attend more diligently to personal and family matters." His euphemistic resignation statement, naturally, makes no...

Treasury's Blueprint for Regulatory Reform

Posted on March 31, 2008
Today, Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson announced the much anticipated "Blueprint for Regulatory Reform." Good news: Secretary Paulson recognized that "Our first and most urgent priority is working through this capital market turmoil and housing downturn, and that will be our...

Let's Not Be Hasty

Posted on March 27, 2008
An interesting article in the American Banker for April 26, 2008, is entitled "Financial Execs Urge Rapid Regulatory Reform." Well, let's see what this is about! Representatives of the Financial Services Roundtable (with membership comprising the 100 largest integrated U...

Reviewing the Fed's Interest Rate Cuts

Posted on March 26, 2008
Are the interest rate cuts by Federal Reserve Board's Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) producing the intended results? You be the judge. Members of the FOMC for 2008 Ben S. Bernanke, Board of Governors, Chairman Timothy F. Geithner, New York,...

Commercial Real Estate Concentrations - The Next Problem Loan Category?

Posted on March 25, 2008
FDIC has issued a Financial Institution Letter (FIL 22-208, March 17, 2008) reemphasizing the importance of risk management strategies and strong capital to back Commercial Real Estate and Construction & Development concentrations. As our economy edges toward recession, losses in...

Points to Ponder Regarding the Subprime Mortgage Market Collapse

Posted on March 25, 2008
My conclusions: 1. There?s blame enough to go around. 2. Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it. 3. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. 4. If you don?t understand it,...

It's Not Sexy But It's Still an Examination Concern

Posted on March 24, 2008
Flood Insurance continues to be a bank examination issue. It may not have the pizzazz of complex financial issues, but for those banks doing a traditional lending business and for borrowers seeking plain vanilla home mortgages, it's still important. The...

FACTA and ID Theft

Posted on March 24, 2008
"FACTA and Identity Theft" is the topic I'm currently working on. I speak at the Texas Bankers Association Legal Conference on Friday this week, so expect a posting of my paper next Monday. Here's a link to a shorter piece...

Fed's New Approach - Shades of FSLIC in the 1980's?

Posted on March 24, 2008
Mergers of underwater thrifts with slightly stronger ones postponed the S&L crisis of the 1980s --- but only for a time; meanwhile, ultimate losses had increased. Could this be deja vu? Last week, the Fed & Treasury encouraged or arranged...

The Fed Tries New Tricks

Posted on March 11, 2008
You really have to give Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke an A+ for effort. As the financial markets continue to struggle, the Federal Reserve is inventing new tools to inject liquidity into the market and calm investor fears. Today, the...

Two Major Concerns for Bankers

Posted on March 10, 2008
FDIC posted its Ombudsman's Report for the last six months of 2007, indicating that bankers are concerned about two main issues: 1. The Subprime Mortgage Crisis & FDIC's proposals for dealing with it; and 2. Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) -...

Not a Pretty Picture for Banks

Posted on March 05, 2008
FDIC's Quarterly Banking Profile for the Fourth Quarter 2007 is a bit grim. Quarterly net income for FDIC-insured institutions declined to a 16-year low. Record high loan loss provisions, record losses in trading activities, and good will impairment expenses were...

Related Law Bulletins

New Baptist Covenant Blog
Last week, I pointed to the New Baptist Convenant website, now onl...

The Mexico Trucker Blog
I've written before about the perceived problems with relaxed rest...