Personal Finance Advice and Commentary

A Federal Reserve study says large banks’ debit card swipe fees declined in the fourth quarter of 2011.

The outcome of the banks vs. merchants public relations battle over the Durbin Amendment is now clear. To paraphrase one Jeffrey Lebowski, “Condolences! The banks lost!” According to a new Javelin study, Americans actually believe Durbin benefited the banks: Even though new debit card regulations have significantly decreased the revenue offset for maintaining checking account

A new research paper, “Where’s the Debit Discount?” has concluded debit card swipe fee caps mandated by the Durbin Amendment haven’t resulted in price savings for consumers. The 17-page paper was published by the Electronic Payments Coalition, or EPC, a group of banking industry associations, banks, credit cards and debit payment-processing companies. The paper states

“Where’s my debit discount?” That question is the premise behind a new website, WheresMyDebitDiscount.com, sponsored by the Electronic Payments Coalition, or EPC. The EPC is a group of about 60 banks, banking industry associations, credit unions and payment card networks that handle electronic payments between merchants and consumers. The website claims that retailers promised to

It looks like banks are still struggling to figure out how to make checking accounts profitable in the wake of the Durbin amendment and other new regulations. Via Andrew Dunn at the Charlotte Observer, Wells Fargo chief executive John Stumpf was asked how his bank is adapting to the new regulatory landscape at an annual