Lending

Many bank card issuers have abandoned practices viewed as unfriendly to consumers, according to a consumer watchdog group that has long been critical of card issuing practices.

Outstanding loans increased at a slightly higher rate in June, savings balances declined and share accounts rose slightly, according to a CUNA survey of 400 credit unions.

Since the beginning of the year, businesses with 50 to 499 employees have improved the most when it comes to paying their bills on time, according to Experian.

The NCUA placed Family First FCU into conservatorship last night and said its problems stemmed from difficulties with its loan portfolio.

An uptick in the SBA's 7(a) loans has helped the agency's secondary market increase lending activity.

Credit unions won a victory Thursday night when a Senate committee approved an amendment to remove a provision that would limit credit card interchange rates on government transactions.

Partisan maneuvering derailed, at least temporarily, Senate action on s small business lending bill.

Sen. Mark Udall today urged his colleagues to ignore the objections of the banking lobby and raise the cap on member business loans.