The second quarter of 2013 (ending in June) marked the second consecutive quarter over a six-year period that deposit balances in FDIC-insured institutions declined in response to lower interest rates.

Revenues are growing significantly for consumer transaction account services, just not at financial institutions.

Twice in the past twenty years we experienced a cycle of decrease and increase in the Fed funds rate.

As the financial services industry emerges from the great recession and adapts to the new regulatory and slow-growth environments, financial institutions are being pressured to find new ways to generate revenue.

Regulators are openly worrying as banks of all sizes ramp up their commercial and industrial (C&I) lending.

While the value of the checking account is not in question these days, the design of it is.

Financial institutions (FIs) determined a long time ago that it was hard to earn a profit making consumer loans for a few hundred dollars.

Building out or improving remote delivery channels, such as online banking, mobile banking and electronic bill pay, with new products and systems represents one of the greatest opportunities a bank can face – and one of the greatest challenges, as well.

The notion that only the largest banks pay a lower annual percentage yield (APY) in return for the perceived status of “too-big-to-fail” is not entirely accurate.

2012 saw the most bank mergers since 2007 as beleaguered institutions look for a way out.

Bankers have grown accustomed over past decades to a plentiful supply of low-cost time deposits from senior citizens that help to properly fund fixed-rate long-term loans.

Lack of timely information about changes in deposit rates can saddle a bank with a relatively higher cost of funds.

Analysis of the temporary unlimited deposit insurance coverage for noninterest-bearing transaction accounts (NIBTAs) shows that this program had a greater psychological than practical impact on deposit customers.

Banks face a real quandary as they consider what to do about their deposit portfolios.

Consider a customer who approaches a bank or credit union seeking a small-dollar credit product.

Can “crowdsourcing” work in credit cards? UK-based Barclays Bank is trying to find out with its new Barclaycard Ring card.

At a time when retail banks are particularly hungry for growth, one of the brightest opportunities is the cross-sale of credit to depositors, including consumers and small businesses.

The amount of money banks generate from fees on deposit accounts decreased from $36.

Certificates of deposits (CDs) have experienced a dramatic change in consumer demand, interest rate levels and type offered in the last five years.

When it comes to deposit pricing, the U.