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.

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.

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 [...]

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
The Corvallis Police Department is asking for help finding a woman suspected of robbing banks in two towns in the past five weeks. The first robbery occurred about 5 p.m. Dec. 2 at a Key Bank branch in the 1800...

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.

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.

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

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)

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

Carmakers seek cash from banks as doubts grow over government bailout
Car industry chiefs are going directly to the banks for help as doubts grow over a government bailout.

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.

UAE Banks Borrow 3.7 Billion Dirhams From Swap Funds (Update1)
Jan. 7 (Bloomberg) -- The United Arab Emirates? central bank has provided 3.7 billion dirhams ($1.01 billion) to local banks through its dollar swap facility, helping to bring down interbank interest rates.

U.S. Banks Need to Raise More Capital, Whitney Says (Update1)
U.S. banks? earnings will be hurt in 2009 by as much as $40 billion of further writedowns as asset prices continue to drop, and credit-ratings are cut on home loan-related securities, Whitney said in a note to clients Jan. 6.

Filing Error May Prove Costly for 2 Big Banks
Oops! Court documents show, for some reason yet to be determined, someone acting on behalf of the banks electronically filed a document in August 2007 relinquishing their rights as secured creditors in connection with a $57 million credit line the two had with the now-defunct law firm.

Banks must spend £1bn on IT
Britain?s banks must spend almost £1bn upgrading their computer systems so that depositors can quickly recover their savings if a lender collapses, the Financial Services Authority has said.