Fubon Bank Says Hong Kong Staff Probed in Alleged Loan Swindle (Bloomberg) Jan. 6 (Bloomberg) -- Fubon Bank (Hong Kong) Ltd. , the Hong Kong unit of Taiwan’s second-biggest financial services company, said employees at its credit arm have been questioned by the city’s anti-graft agency in relation to an alleged loan racket.

Bank loan losses may double by 2010-end: Deutsche (Reuters via Yahoo! News) Loan losses for U.S. commercial banks are expected to rise to 3 percent by the end of 2010, from 1.5 percent in the third quarter of 2008, hurt by an increased percentage of bad loans, greater consumer leverage and faster problem recognition by banks, Deutsche Bank said.

Synovus stock falls after bank boosts loan loss fund (Atlanta Journal-Constitution) Shares of Synovus, Georgia's second-largest bank, fell Monday as investors digested the company's weekend announcement that it expected to set aside $350 million to cover potential loan losses. That marks a whopping 75 percent increase in the company's loan loss allowance, which stood at $464 million at the end of the third quarter. Synovus' stock price fell 13 percent Monday, to $7.13 per share.

Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta Announces Results of 2009 Board of Directors Leadership and Independent Directors ... (PR Newswire via Yahoo! Finance) Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta today announced the results of the 2009 elections for the chairman, vice chairman and independent director positions on the board of directors.

ING DIRECT's Mason named to Home Loan Bank board (The Delaware Business Ledger) The Board of Directors of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh has appointed John Mason, an officer of ING Bank, fsb (operating as ING DIRECT), as a member of the Bank’s Board. Mason was named to the open member director seat on the Board currently allocated to Delaware.

The Ratings Game: Bigger loan losses will hurt banks in 2009, Deutsche Bank says (Market Watch) Deutsche Bank analysts cut their profit outlook on 16 banking stocks, warning that trouble is likely to spread to more types of loans this year as the economy worsens.

First Gulf Bank and Mubadala Sign Dh1.19b Syndicated Loan (Khaleej Times) DUBAI - Abu Dhabi-based The First Gulf Bank (FGB) along with five other leading regional and international banks signed a $323 million (Dh1.19 billion) 20-year syndicated loan on Sunday with Mubadala Development Company (Mubadala), which will be used to finance the new campus of Paris Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi.

THE RATINGS GAME: Bigger Loan Losses Will Hurt Banks In 2009, Deutsche Bank Says (Nasdaq) NEW YORK (Dow Jones) -- Banking stocks traded lower Monday, retreating as Deutsche Bank analysts cut their profit outlook and warned that trouble is likely to spread to more types of loans this year as the economy worsens.

Globe Telecom taps German bank for loan to fund 2009 spending (GMANews.TV via Yahoo! Philippines News) MANILA, Philippines - Ayala-led Globe Telecom, Inc., the country's second largest phone firm, has secured a three-year loan from Germany's Norddeutsche Landesbank Girozentrale.

United Community Banks ups loan loss provision (BizJournals) United Community Banks Inc., Georgia’s third-largest bank, said Monday it will raise its fourth-quarter loan loss reserve in the wake of credit deterioration and current economic conditions, particularly in its metro Atlanta residential construction portfolio. (UCBI) (SNV)