WASHINGTON--On the eve of a Senate Finance Committee hearing held today, the federal financial regulatory agencies yesterday issued a request for public comment on a statement encouraging federal financial institutions to follow best practices to guard against garnishment of protected federal benefit payments.

Discover Financial Services, the parent of the Discover card brand and owner of the PULSE EFT Association, has inked a deal that promises to expand the number of locations that accept Discover Card.

Banks will be allowed to continue with certain brokerage activities without having to register with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the agency voted yesterday, but credit unions were not included in those exemptions.

Canada's Provincial Credit Union Centrals and Desjardins Group have partnered to form a national mutual fund company with $5.5 billion in assets through two of the country's top investment firms.