Links in “Banks”

A total of 597,589 U.S. properties with foreclosure filings have been reported in the first half of 2015, down 13% from the previous six months and down 3% from the same time period in 2014.  [7/20/15]

The report is described as "the first in a new series of monthly reports to highlight key trends from consumer complaints submitted to the Bureau." The report is meant to provide overall data on complaint volume, as well as spotlighting particular products and locations. [7/20/15]

Ever wonder how online sites selling malware, botnets, stolen credit card information, and hacking software manage to operate with impunity? Turns out they don't always. Darkode, one of the most infamous underground cyber forums, was infiltrated by law enforcement officials from many countries, resulting in charges, arrests, and searches of 70 members. [7/16/15]

"Zombie debts," debts that are paid or discharged, but still show up on a consumer's credit report, continue to haunt millions of consumers years after the height of the financial crisis. A new bill has been introduced that would require creditors to notify reporting agencies when a debt is extinguished. [7/16/15]

Testifying before the Senate, CFPB Director Cordray counters challenges that the bureau lacks oversight, citing a GAO audit, its own inspector general, and being called to testify before the House and Senate. He was also grilled about cost overruns at the CFPB's HQ renovations. [7/16/15]

The CFPB develops four guides to help new immigrants with their basic money decisions. [7/16/15]

Premier Bank in Colorado becomes only the sixth bank failure of 2015. At the height of the economic downturn, there were months when more than a dozen banks would fail. [7/16/15]

From an apartment kitchen in Belarus, a 24-year-old picks up the phone and calls the toll-free number, using software that makes it look as if he's calling from the U.S. "You don't see blood, you don't see crying people in front of you. You're just pushing the button." [7/15/15]

It's Sunday night. Cybercriminals launch a vicious distributed denial of service attack against your company. The next 48 hours will test your culture, teamwork and collective dedication to your mission. Here's how it looked from the inside for one company and what its CEO learned from the experience. [7/15/15]

The Fed's powers under Dodd-Frank have grown, but transparency hasn't. "Opacity reigns supreme within its walls. It is a veritable fraternity where silence is golden, and no one, not even Congress, is allowed to ask questions." [7/15/15]