GAFM Articles

Why aren’t banks lending? (March 2009) | Banking
by Martin Davies

The treasury functions of Governments across the world have been dropping lending rates offered to banks and in some cases to nearly zero.  In normal markets this would stimulate lending but in stressed markets it is appearing to have the opposite effect.   ...[ Read More ]

Globalization and Federal Monetary Policy (October 2007) | Banking
by Federal Reserve Chairman Dr. Ben S. Bernanke

My topic this evening is the implications of ongoing global economic integration "globalization" for short--for U.S. monetary policy. At the broadest level, globalization influences the conduct of monetary policy through its powerful effects on the economic and financial environment in which monetary policy must operate. ...[ Read More ]

Bank compliance - Controlling risk and improving effectiveness (August 2007) | Banking
by Economist Intelligence Unit

The need for effective compliance at financial services and banking companies is stronger than ever. Burgeoning regulations are more stringent and further-reaching; products more complex and geographic reach wider. All of this requires more money and vigilance to avoid missteps that could lead to damaged reputations and large penalties. Yet, a nagging question remains about the true effectiveness of compliance processes across financial enterprises. ...[ Read More ]

A Brief Introduction to the Principle of Tax Equity (August 2007) | Banking
by George L. Salis

Quite often we read law or tax material and we encounter the phrase “tax equity.”  As we read the complex revenue decisions and court rulings, we began to discern the ideal and definition of tax equity, and perhaps, we may even be able to penetrate its meaning to some extent.  However, what exactly is tax equity?  When one suddenly reads of this elusive concept, it almost appears as a contradiction in terms, an oxymoron.  Is it possible for taxes and/or taxation to be “equitable?” ...[ Read More ]

The Wolfsberg Anti-Money Laundering Principles for Correspondent Banking (July 2007) | Banking
by The Wolfsberg Group

Correspondent Banking Client is a client of an institution that is a financial services firm that uses the institutions Correspondent Banking services accounts to clear transactions for its own client base. The term includes (but is not

limited to) Banks, Broker-Dealers, Mutual Funds, Unit Trusts, Investment Services Firms, Hedge Funds, Introducing Brokers, Money Service Businesses, Pension Funds, Credit Card Providers, Commercial Credit Companies, Household

Finance Companies, Mortgage Banks, Building Societies, and Leasing Companies.