Pressured by consumer advocates and Congress, most of the nation's big banks are now providing consumers a one page form listing basic terms and conditions for checking accounts, with Bank of America Corp. the latest to join the trend.

Checking accounts are critical to the financial well-being of American families, but many bear hidden risks. Susan Weinstock, director of the Safe Checking in the Electronic Age project, offers four policy recommendations to make accounts more transparent and fair for consumers. more

Banks offer special accounts for specific populations. Consumers should evaluate their options carefully before choosing their account type. As Americans open checking accounts across the country, many are often offered special products that banks market exclusively to students.

The Columbus Dispatch: About 1 in 10 Ohioans has used payday loans in the past five years, among the higher rates in the nation.

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, which failed to control the reckless mortgage lending that helped cause the financial crisis, is widely regarded as a pushover among federal regulators. But the agency showed some welcome muscle and concern