Free Republic

DICKSON CITY, Pa. — Americans say they are fed up with banks. They are protesting on Wall Street and raising a ruckus over outsize fees. Now there is a surprising beneficiary: Wal-Mart. Geoffrey Cardone, a 26-year-old factory worker, said he dumped his bank account because he felt that he was being nickeled and dimed by fees. His new payday ritual includes a trip to the Wal-Mart here in northeastern Pennsylvania. “It’s cheaper,” said Mr. Cardone, who was charged a flat fee of $3 to cash his paycheck. Many check-cashing stores keep a percentage of the check, which tends to be...

In a desperate bid to help U.S. banks recapitalize, Washington is dropping its inhibitions and reaching out to Canadian financial institutions to gauge their willingness to participate in rescue operations. The Federal Reserve has activated a back channel that puts the central bank in direct contact with chief executives at Canada's largest banks and insurers, according to a person familiar with the dialogue. They are approaching "banks with major assets in the U.S. like [Toronto-Dominion Bank] and Royal [Bank of Canada], because when they have a bailout situation they want everyone who is a potential buyer to look at it,"...

New Delhi,the capital of India, was recently under the grip of fear from the Biker's gang.The dreaded gang used to shot dead anyone who refused to part with his belonging.After intense public pressure the Police arrested some criminals who were residing in an outskirt village, posing as Bank's recovery agents.Imagine the plight of people,whom premise they would be visiting to recover Bank's dues. The business of "Recovery agency"is absolutely under control of dreaded Mafia in Delhi.The front person who apply for the licence is generally a person with no criminal background.But the real operations are conducted by criminals.They barge into...