Private Lessons

Banking lost one of its leaders a few weeks ago. This banker never took a writedown on third-world debt, never figured out what a derivative was all about, never cut the ribbon for a gleaming new bank headquarters. In a way, though, Esther Ocloo was a banker in the finest sense, a throwback to the […]

The free market has exercised its will and “regulated” Enron, but the unrestricted free market is a brutal and costly regulator. What can be done to avoid or minimize this kind of debacle in the future? Here are three suggestions.

Just a few years ago it was an industry high-flier. Now Superior Bank FSB has become the costliest thrift failure in a decade. What went wrong, and why? A lack of board oversight has emerged as a major culprit.

Whether in a large or a small institution, if you are on the loan committee, getting all the facts is essential. Just remember, communicating with management is a two-way street: If you don’t have what you need, ask for it. You could be leaving the bank (and yourself) open to liability.

Though it goes against conventional wisdom, many financial institutions now believe that providing free checking services can promote a healthy boost to the bottom line.