Banks Halt Foreclosures Ahead of Obama Plan

Confidential reports could lead to prosecutions

(NEWSER) - A set of confidential audits could lead to fraud prosecutions for five of America’s biggest mortgage lenders, officials briefed on the documents tell the Huffington Post . The scathing documents accuse Bank of America, Wells Fargo, JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, and Ally Financial of defrauding taxpayers by making false claims about foreclosures on homes purchased with government-backed loans, according to the officials. More»

But headhunting 'selective,' notes banker

(NEWSER) - After cutting thousands of jobs over the past two years, American banks are rushing to fill them again as business picks up, Reuters reports. “Back in March and April, no one really knew if the investment banking business was going to exist again," said a search firm exec. "The world has changed dramatically in the last four to five months and now banks are hiring." More»

Treasury report rates banks' performance

(NEWSER) - Bank of America began modifying just 4% of its loans eligible under the Making Home Affordable Act, according to a Treasury report on big banks' performance, while Wells Fargo started just 6%. JPMorgan Chase led the pack with 20%, Bloomberg reports, while Citigroup had 15%. “Some of the servicers could have ramped up better, faster, more consistently,” said a Treasury official. “We expect them to do more.” More»

(NEWSER) - Amid growing dissatisfaction with government restrictions on bailout funds, President Obama will meet with bank CEOs on Friday, Reuters reports. Several banks have indicated that they will repay their TARP loans to avoid new government rules. In the meeting with execs from Citigroup, Goldman Sachs and others, Obama will urge them to “look beyond our own short-term interests,” an aide said. More»

Banks say funds can't go straight to loans, and recession cuts down on would-be borrowers

(NEWSER) - Lending is down at some of the biggest beneficiaries of the $148 billion the Treasury hoped would get US banks lending again, the Wall Street Journal reports. Of 13 banks to receive major government backing, 10 saw a decline in their outstanding loan balances between the third and fourth quarters of 2008. Analysts fear the decline shows the government plan has “failed.” More»