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An Automated Valuation Model, or more commonly known as an AVM, is a program that automatically analyzes various data points to produce an estimate on the current value of a home or property. An AVM includes:

Ah, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA)...that ole' chestnut. There hasn't been much change to this law, which went into effect back in 1991. Clarifications have been issued—as recently as 2013—however, the core ruling hasn't shifted since inception regarding contacting a debtor using an autodialer or pre-recorded message. If you don't know what the TCPA is and how it impacts the financial services industry, you can read one of our previous blog post that covers the TCPA basics. However, in this article, we'll dive a little deeper into how a financial institution can navigate the particulars of obtaining express consent from borrowers, specifically for the purposes of contacting them on a mobile device.

Though U.S. auto sales have cooled of late, one segment is thriving and even growing against the odds. Almost 70% of all auto sales these days consist of light-duty trucks and sport-utility vehicles (SUVs), according to Bloomberg. Meanwhile, mid- and full-size trucks are also enjoying double-digit sales growth, reports trucks.com.

While the automotive industry and numerous dependent industries, such as auto lending, are usually pleased with increased vehicle sales in any segment, this time there's a catch: trucks and SUVs have become the priciest class of vehicles, and borrowers are beginning to have a hard time paying back these larger loans.

Being in the payment industry for well over two decades, now, more than ever, we are seeing consumer experience and the demand for self-service solutions causing significant growth in online and mobile payments. Particularly, in the last year, we’ve seen self-service channels are growing at about three times the rate of “agent-led” calls.

Increasing non-interest income to help cover costs and introducing new services while also staying true to your financial institution's mission can be tricky. One way to do so is by introducing new products that complement your current offerings and bring value to your new and existing consumer base. To that end, voluntary protection products, often available in combination with premium checking accounts, are a great option for financial institutions to add to their product and service portfolios.

No matter the industry, customer retention should play a critical role in your business model—and financial institutions are no exception. While acquiring new customers is always top of mind for financial institutions, retaining existing customers might be a smarter business move when it comes to growing and remaining profitable.

It's a sad fact that good news is rarely 100% positive; usually we can expect some undesirable result from sunny situations. The U.S. economy's recovery after the Great Recession is a perfect example. While we're pleased about low unemployment and consumer spending in support of employment and economic growth, the lending industry is beginning to see a negative byproduct of that improved economy: rising credit card delinquency.

If you're looking for a unique benefit solution that will provide your financial institution's key executives with life insurance and supplemental retirement benefits, split-dollar life insurance fits the bill perfectly.

This is an important alert to inform you about a scheme that could affect the payments industry.

"Unlimited Operation" Schemes Threaten Financial Institutions

Unspecified reporting obtained by the FBI indicates cyber criminals are planning to conduct a global automated teller machine (ATM) cash-out scheme in the coming days, likely associated with an unknown card issuer breach and commonly referred to as an “unlimited operation.”

This week, emerging market investors were greeted by a plunging Turkish Lira, which as of this writing is down more than 15% relative to the major developed market currencies (see chart below). As carry trades are unwound as investors head for safety and lick their wounds, we are reminded of the volatility that erupted in emerging market currencies between 1998 and 2002.