SunTrust

Bank of America's announcement this week that it would start charging a monthly $5 fee for using a debit card to make purchases is the latest in banking industry upcharges. As fee-free options for banking dwindle, the bottom line is that consumers are paying more to use their own money.

Fourth-quarter 2010 earnings season ramps up this week. Analysts expect strong results from some big corporate names. And on the heels of last week's big earnings beat from JPMorgan Chase, the financial sector will have plenty more results to peruse this week.

Moody's is reviewing 10 large regional banks for possible downgrades because it thinks financial reform means total government support is now less likely. That's setting off a debate about whether those banks will actually take a hit to profitability.

Earlier today, the Consumer Federation of America (CFA) and the Financial Services Roundtable (FSR) released the results of two new consumer surveys -- both of which you may be interested in. (But if you aren't interested, here's a video you can click on, featuring a cat playing the piano. I aim...

As TARP nears it's end on Dec. 31, discussions about extending it -- or killing it -- are flooding the halls of Congress and the White House. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner can ask to extend TARP until October 2010, but he'll do so with a lot of objection from members of Congress. In fact...

As consumers struggle to pay bills, banks stand to collect a record $38.5 billion in customer overdraft fees -- nearly double the amount collected in 2000, the Financial Times reports. Moebs Services data show that the median bank overdraft fee rose from $25 to $26 for the first time during a...

As people shift from using credit cards to debit cards, banks need to find new ways to sock it to them. And it looks like they may have found one: higher checking fees. If you're not careful, these fees can add up to hundreds of dollars before you even know they hit you. To wit: * Bank of America...

Warren Buffett is bullish on his banks. The Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) CEO and second-richest man in the world would love to boost his company's stakes in Wells Fargo (WFC), US Bancorp (USB) and M&T Bank (MTB) because their shares are so attractively priced, he said at Berkshire's annual...

As banks receive their stress test results, some are finding that their only choice for survival could be converting TARP preferred shares to common shares, similar to what Citigroup (C) was forced to do. While banks were given three options -- sell shares, convert shares, or get more federal aid...

On Tuesday night, 34 year old Bruce W. Higgins Jr., was arrested in Washington D.C. on charges of armed robbery and being a fugitive. According to police, Higgins is suspected of stealing money from two branches of SunTrust bank, one in Arlington, Virginia, and the other in Washington. In both...