Bank of America

A loophole in the fines Bank of America are forced to pay out could have homeowners hit with a hefty tax burden – all while the bank that defrauded them gets to write off its criminal behavior.

Eric Holder's Justice Department has levied a near $17 billion dollar fine agains Bank of America for its shady dealings leading up to 2008's financial meltdown. At first blush, it looks like the punishment may have actual teeth, as BoA could still be liable for criminal prosecution.

Community groups stood together outside Minneapolis City Hall to accuse banks of continuing to “red-line” communities of color and refusing to refinance sub-prime mortgages from 2009-2012. “What the report shows very clearly is that big banks like Wells Fargo are redlining communities of color,” said Anthony Newby, executive director of NOC. “The report shows that redlining is alive and well, and in some ways it’s worse than it’s ever been.”

A man who used children's chalk to write "No Thanks Big Banks" and "Shame on Bank of America" on San Diego sidewalks outside of Bank of America branches is facing up to 13 years in prison and $13,000 in fines. Jeff Olson was also hit with a gag order in his trial, as the judge makes sure the proceedings are about vandalism and not free speech — despite outcry from San Diego's mayor.

When five mega-companies control 90-percent of a $700 trillion market, it's safe to say that they can afford some pretty good lobbyists in Washington. According to a report from Mother Jones released on Friday, however, Citigroup's influence on Capitol Hill is so strong that the House financial services committee passed legislation that was practically plagiarized from a proposal drafted by the bank's lobbyists.

This morning, nine activists interrupted business as usual at four Bank of America branches across the city of Charlotte, NC. The activists, most of whom were Charlotte locals, were there to protest the bank’s massive financing of the U.S. coal industry.

What is the total greenhouse gas footprint of Citigroup, Bank of America, or UBS? Right now, we don’t know, and that’s a major problem for both banks and the climate.

Larry at the Tar Sands Action with Teri Blanton from Kentucky and Texas landowner David Daniel
This past weekend I went to West Virginia to say goodbye to my friend Larry Gibson.

"I GUESS it is easy being green," said Kermit the Frog as he bounced around a Ford Escape Hybrid in a 2006 television ad campaign.
During the ad, Kermit displayed his innate talent for not blinking which, it has to be said, is due essentially to his congenital lack of eyelids....