Analysis; US spending slows down in economic squeeze.
Byline: Emily Kaiser Reuters WASHINGTON -- Whether it's Big Macs, big rocks or big trucks, US consumers are tightening their purse strings, and the squeeze may be severe enough to topple the US economy into recession. On Tuesday, economists expect the Commerce Department to report...

Logos, logos everywhere.
What logos are required to be placed in a particular ad? We're not talking about your bank's logo, but rather regulatory symbols and statements, such as "Equal Housing Lender" or "Member FDIC." Whether or not a logo or statement is required depends on the product being advertised, and each...

G7 leaders pessimistic on global economy.
TOKYO (Reuters) -- Finance leaders of the world's top industrialized nations put on a show of solidarity on Saturday in the face of an economic slowdown and conceded that things could get even worse because of the crumbling US housing market. In a communique released after meetings...

Uncertainty clouds economic outlook.
Byline: Sherri Buri McDonald The Register-Guard When it comes to predicting what the economy will do in 2008, the only certainty is uncertainty, said members of The Register-Guard's Board of Economists. It's clear that the national housing slump and related credit problems are dragging down...

Papering over the problem: killing the dollar to save Bear Stearns.
AS THE NEWS BROKE on March 14 that the Federal Reserve would backstop the rescue of Bear Stearns by JPMorgan Chase, it's unlikely that many of the drivers paying record-high prices at the gas stations off the West Side Highway thought to glance toward midtown, where two sleek towers...

Oxley doubts anti-predatory lending bill this year.
In recent comments, House Financial Services Committee Chairman Michael Oxley, R-Ohio, expressed doubt that Congress would agree this year on legislation to create a federal anti-predatory lending standard. "We're a long way from success on that," Oxley said in April 26 remarks before a Mortgage Bankers Association...

Standing out: you don't have to be a large bank with a big budget in order to tap into the emotional power of brand positioning--a process that differentiates your financial institution and bolsters customer loyalty.
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Let's look at the increasingly complex environment that banks face today: Not only are there more players in an already crowded space--with insurance, investment and lending services entering the traditional banking market--consumers are also becoming more savvy and require more sophisticated products to meet their...

Credit card receivables up 22.3%; auto loans increase 20% in 3 months.
Byline: LEE C. CHIPONGIAN The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said yesterday the banking industry posted higher credit card and automotive loans in the first three months of the year. BSP said the credit card receivables (CCRs) of universal/commercial banks and thrift banks grew 22.3...

Cast a larger net.
Byline: The Register-Guard Sharks, particularly those of the loan variety, can be crafty and elusive predators. That's why lawmakers need a bigger net to keep short-term lenders from continuing their feeding frenzy on low-income Oregonians. In a special session last year, the Legislature approved a...

Save your home from foreclosure; Tips that may prevent the unthinkable.
Byline: Damon Carr Mortgage delinquencies and foreclosures are at an all time high. It's shocking to review published statistics about millions of people who've fallen behind on their mortgage payments. It's alarming to read stories about people whom you don't know who are struggling to keep their...