Editors' picks for the week include an article on a new accounting standard that could hit banks' capital ratios and a data dispatch on U.S. regional banks' second-quarter financial performance.

Lease accounting change may pose one-two hit to banks

An accounting change may hit banks' capital ratios and lead them to revisit debt covenants with borrowers. With other substantive accounting changes coming up, accountants and auditors worry it may not be getting the attention it deserves.

For regional US banks, rising margins led to strong Q2 results

Regionals also showed significant improvement in efficiency ratios.

Mortgage settlements surpass $158B, lawsuits could persist for years to come

Despite years of multi-billion dollar settlements, financial institutions could continue to face lawsuits as settlements open the door to indemnity claims among parties of a securitization.

Credit unions: Refunds from stabilization fund not enough

U.S. credit unions are delighted to receive refunds on the assessments they paid into the corporate credit union stabilization fund, but they are not thrilled about the amount of the planned distributions.

Large-bank deal activity up 48% YOY

The pace of bank M&A with a value of at least $100 million is at its highest level since 2007, as a run-up in stock prices provides bankers a green light to make deals.