Capital requirements have long been considered important to bank safety and the protection of the federal deposit insurance fund. But widespread banking problems and heavy losses to the deposit insurance fund have intensified the focus on capital. Supervisory agencies have become even more...

Resilience has historically characterized the New England region, and the past year has exemplified that long-standing quality. Coming out of the worst regional recession since the Great Depression has been slow and painful, and the lives of many of our neighbors have been disrupted along the...