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Recent stories by Eileen Ambrose
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Eileen Ambrose
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Erica L. Green
Glenn Graham
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Arthur Hirsch
Jamie Smith Hopkins
Rebecca Hyler
Dean Jones Jr.
Chris Kaltenbach
Jacques Kelly
Mike Klingaman
Alison Knezevich
Amanda Krotki
Edward Lee
Annie Linskey
Robert Little
Jean Marbella
Don Markus
Patrick Maynard
Mary C. McCauley
Lorraine Mirabella
Ken Murray
Jonathan Pitts
Mike Preston
Fred Rasmussen
Jill Rosen
Dave Rosenthal
Julie Scharper
Peter Schmuck
Sam Sessa
Andrea Siegel
Tim Smith
Laura Smitherman
L'Oreal Thompson
Candus Thomson
Andrea Walker
Childs Walker
Tim Wheeler
John-John Williams IV
Michelle Deal-Zimmerman
Jeff Zrebiec
David Zurawik
December 21, 2013
5 Questions for James D. Hardesty
If you want to know something about the history of the Baltimore investment community, you might want to call James Hardesty.
1:10 PM EST, December 7, 2013
Year-end tax planning important for upper income households
A year ago, it was difficult for taxpayers to do last-minute tax planning because of uncertainty surrounding expiring tax breaks from the Bush era.
7:46 PM EST, December 1, 2013
Despite more time to shop, Black Friday weekend customers spend less
Despite extra time to shop as more retailers opened for business on Thanksgiving Day, consumers spent less money this year during the first four days of the official start of the holiday shopping season, according to a survey released Sunday by the National Retail Federation.
5:00 AM EST, December 1, 2013
5 Questions for Matt Goddard, CEO of R2integrated
A new name recently joined the Baltimore skyline: R2integrated.
November 22, 2013
Baltimore health department cites store for selling lead-tainted children's jewelry
Young World Store on Liberty Heights Avenue has been cited by the Baltimore City Health Department for selling children's bracelets with excessive levels of lead, the agency announced Thursday.
7:12 PM EST, November 18, 2013
Labor Department sues former BBH CEO over retirement plan
The U.S. Department of Labor announced Monday that it sued the former CEO of Baltimore Behavioral Health Inc. for failing to deposit workers' contributions into the company's retirement plan.
5:51 PM EST, November 18, 2013
Fairmount Bancorp switches to state charter
Baltimore County's Fairmount Bancorp Inc. said Monday its bank, Fairmount Bank, is now a state-chartered commercial bank, after converting from a federally chartered savings bank last week.
7:51 PM EST, November 15, 2013
Time running out for First Mariner Bancorp to postpone interest payments to investors
First Mariner Bancorp faces a year-end deadline to pay millions in interest or risk default.
5:13 PM EST, November 10, 2013
Runners raise money to help injured Maryland state trooper
Hundreds of people donned sneakers on a crisp, sunny Sunday morning to show their support for a Maryland state trooper critically injured on the job last month.
12:57 PM EST, November 12, 2013
First Mariner to close two more branches
First Mariner Bancorp, parent of 1st Mariner Bank, said it is closing two branches early next year, leaving the Baltimore-based bank with 16 branches.
6:19 PM EST, November 11, 2013
Baltimore firm files shareholder lawsuit against REIT merger
A Baltimore law firm said Monday that it filed a shareholder lawsuit against Cole Real Estate Investments Inc., claiming that the Phoenix-based company agreed to sell itself for less than its value.
3:06 PM EST, November 8, 2013
First Mariner reports $7.4 million loss in third quarter
First Mariner Bancorp on Friday reported a $7.4 million loss in the third quarter, which the Baltimore-based company blamed on a steep increase on interest rates that dampened its mortgage business.
7:24 PM EST, November 7, 2013
T. Rowe Price rides Twitter IPO to huge gain
The New York Stock Exchange debut of Twitter offered a huge boost to five funds managed by Baltimore-based T. Rowe Price.
10:14 PM EST, November 7, 2013
Change in inflation measure would affect federal retirees
The next big battle for federal workers might not be over another government shutdown, but how to measure inflation.
8:05 PM EST, November 15, 2013
Maryland entrepreneur runs into trouble for using the word 'entrepreneur'
Back in 2000, Entrepreneur's StartUps magazine featured an article about Janice McLean Deloatch as she was trying to launch a business in Maryland that dispensed pantyhose from vending machines.
5:22 PM EST, November 5, 2013
Maryland casinos rake in nearly $66.4 million in October
Revenue from Maryland's four casinos totaled nearly $66.4 million last month, up $1.04 million in September, the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency reported Tuesday.
7:27 PM EDT, October 29, 2013
Legg Mason to lay off 20 as part of restructuring of audit functions
Legg Mason Inc. will be laying off about 20 people in its auditing department in Baltimore at the end of the year.
5:19 PM EST, November 6, 2013
State approves $1 million to maintain airport hotel
The state Board of Public Works on Wednesday gave approval for the Maryland Aviation Administration to spend about $1.05 million to maintain the hotel on the airport grounds, said MAA spokesman Jonathan Dean.
6:23 PM EST, November 4, 2013
DTLR Holding Inc. to launch IPO
DTLR Holding Inc., a Hanover apparel store, plans to raise up to $75 million in an initial public offering of its common shares, the company said in a regulatory filing on Friday.
2:03 PM EDT, October 24, 2013
Hotel at BWI Airport to close next month
The Four Points by Sheraton BWI Airport, the only hotel on airport property, will close at the end of November when its 30-year lease expires, said Kevin Carnes, the hotel's general manager.
4:11 PM EDT, October 19, 2013
Uncertainty of future shutdown could dampen holiday spending
Though the federal government shutdown ended last week, the economic impact is likely to be felt in Maryland for months, dimming prospects for a robust holiday shopping season.
6:06 PM EST, November 4, 2013
Fidelity & Guaranty Life Insurance Co. moving headquarters to Iowa
Fidelity & Guaranty Life Insurance Co., a presence in Baltimore since its founding 54 years ago, will move its headquarters to Des Moines, Iowa — another disappointing loss of corporate clout for the city.
5:58 PM EDT, October 25, 2013
Legg Mason earns $86.3 million for second quarter
Legg Mason Inc., which continues to struggle with money flowing out of its stock funds, reported Friday it earned $86.3 million in the second quarter ended Sept. 30, a 6.8 percent increase over a year ago.
6:43 PM EDT, October 24, 2013
T. Rowe Price reports 9 percent increase in profit for third quarter
T. Rowe Price reported a $270.3 million profit in the third quarter Thursday, up 9.3 percent from the previous year, although the Baltimore-based money manager saw an outflow of investor dollars during the period.
8:24 AM EDT, October 18, 2013
Venture capital funding increases in Maryland region
Venture capitalists in the third quarter invested $445.7 million in 53 projects in the region that includes Maryland, Virginia and Washington, more than double the amount for the quarter last year, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers' MoneyTree Report released Friday.
7:04 PM EDT, October 24, 2013
Now an outsider, Ed Hale wants to clear the air
Ed Hale wants to buy the Baltimore Arena, but the city said the aging facility is not for sale.
8:29 PM EDT, October 23, 2013
Bank of America shifts focus of Hunt Valley operation
Bank of America said it is changing the type of work its Hunt Valley employees do given the decline in refinancings as interests rates have risen.
October 27, 2013
5 Questions for Michael D. Hankin, CEO of Brown Advisory
Brown Advisory in Fells Point turned 20 this year. The firm now manages about $42 billion in assets and recently expanded its business in the United Kingdom.
9:07 AM EDT, October 15, 2013
City's bottle tax a big burden for small retailers, grocery experts say
An independent grocer's profit margin is so slim that Baltimore's bottled-beverage tax may be to blame for the pending demise of Santoni's Supermarket, industry experts said Monday.
11:20 AM EDT, October 1, 2013
MuniMae reaches settlement with SEC
Municipal Mortgage & Equity, better known as MuniMae, said it has reached a settlement with federal securities regulators that will allow the Baltimore company's suspended stock to trade once more.
5:24 PM EDT, October 23, 2013
Santoni's in discussion with retailers to take over vacated location
Santoni's Supermarket closed its doors on Tuesday after operating in Baltimore for 83 years.
October 13, 2013
Investors wary and weary, but not panicked over debt ceiling standoff
After plunging early in the week over fears that the United States might default on its debts, stocks rallied Thursday and Friday after House Republicans showed a willingness to temporarily extend the debt ceiling for six weeks.
3:07 PM EDT, October 4, 2013
Beware of con artists' schemes related to Affordable Care Act
Consumers weren't able to sign up for insurance under new health care exchanges until last week, but con artists have been scheming for months to steal money or Social Security numbers under the guise of the Affordable Care Act.
October 3, 2013
Multiple health insurance websites spring up as online exchanges launch
Tony Hausner searched on Google Tuesday for the Maryland Health Connection, the state's new online insurance marketplace, and was pleased that he was able to access the site that had crashed earlier in the day.
5:24 PM EDT, September 30, 2013
What consumers need to know when shopping on Maryland's health care exchange
As of Tuesday, thousands of residents will be able to log onto the state's health care exchange, the Maryland Health Connection, to browse for medical insurance and even buy a policy.
5:38 PM EDT, September 24, 2013
T. Rowe Price seeks SEC approval on ETFs
T. Rowe Price is asking the Securities and Exchange Commission to allow it to offer "non-transparent" active exchange traded funds, according to a regulatory filing on Tuesday.
6:39 AM EDT, September 27, 2013
Massachusetts nonprofit brings foreclosure relief program to Maryland
A Massachusetts firm that acquires foreclosed homes and sells them back to their former owners under more affordable loan terms is expected to announce Friday its expansion into Maryland.
6:44 PM EDT, September 20, 2013
Nielsen reaches agreement with FTC on Arbitron purchase
Nielsen Holdings on Friday announced an agreement with the Federal Trade Commission that the company says clears the way for it to buy Columbia-based Arbitron.
9:17 PM EDT, October 9, 2013
What you need to know about the debt ceiling
Until recently, the markets largely ignored the political jockeying over whether to raise the federal debt ceiling, figuring there's no way Congress would purposely default on the nation's obligations and potentially throw the U.S. economy into another recession.
October 8, 2013
September revenue for Maryland casinos reaches $65.3 million
Maryland's four casinos pulled in $65.3 million in revenue for September, a drop from $71 million the month before, the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency reported Monday.
6:23 PM EDT, September 23, 2013
Examiner out, R2integrated in for downtown skyline
The downtown Baltimore skyline is about to change.
6:33 PM EDT, September 16, 2013
From intern to T. Rowe Price portfolio manager
A decade ago, Taymour Tamaddon was an MBA. student with a background in physics trying to convince Baltimore-based money manager T. Rowe Price to hire him as an intern.
7:11 PM EDT, September 20, 2013
Five questions for Matthew Wyskiel
Legg Mason's Bill Miller and other high-profile investors will share their top stock picks of the moment Wednesday— with the aim of raising money for area schoolchildren.
6:39 PM EDT, September 13, 2013
New quarter honoring Fort McHenry officially launched
A new quarter depicting fireworks over Fort McHenry was officially launched during a ceremony Friday at the Baltimore landmark as part of Defenders' Day celebrations.
3:26 PM EDT, September 17, 2013
Maryland issues cease and desist order against online payday lenders
Maryland's financial regulation division announced Tuesday that it had issued a final cease and desist order against online payday lenders and the owner of these businesses.
2:35 PM EDT, September 11, 2013
Legg Mason Inc. to incur about $20 million in costs over six months
Baltimore-based money manager Legg Mason Inc. will incur charges of $10 million in each of the last two quarters of this year for paying severance and other expenses related to streamlining its business, according to a Wednesday filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
September 22, 2013
Memories of the financial crisis, five years later
The excited voices on CNBC radio riveted financial adviser John Bacci's attention as he drove to Chestertown five years ago for a routine client visit.
6:43 PM EDT, September 11, 2013
Treasury Department to auction securities in Severn Bancorp, five other banks
The Treasury Department announced it intends to sell securities of six banks, including Severn Bancorp Inc. of Annapolis, as it winds down the Troubled Asset Relief Program.
8:29 PM EDT, September 10, 2013
Downtown Baltimore skywalk over Pratt Street to come down
The city plans to remove a skywalk between the Baltimore Convention Center and Bank of America at 100 S. Charles St. in the next few weeks, according to the Downtown Partnership of Baltimore, a nonprofit.
6:29 PM EDT, September 10, 2013
F.N.B. announces plans for regional headquarters in Baltimore
Pennsylvania-based F.N.B. Corp. announced Tuesday that it plans to open a regional headquarters in downtown Baltimore as it expands in Maryland.
6:33 PM EDT, September 10, 2013
Home sales in metro Baltimore rise 16.6 percent in August
Sales of homes in metro Baltimore jumped nearly 17 percent in August from a year earlier, with demand pushing up the month's sales prices to the highest levels since 2008, according to a report released Tuesday.
3:12 PM EDT, September 3, 2013
Federal Trade Commission reaches settlement with Cockeysville auto dealer
The Federal Trade Commission announced Tuesday that it reached a settlement with two auto dealers in Ohio and Maryland, including Timonium Chrysler Inc. of Cockeysville, over charges of deceptive ads on the cost of vehicles or available discounts.
4:17 PM EDT, September 6, 2013
IRS to recognize same-sex marriages
For same-sex married couples in Maryland and elsewhere, filing taxes is about to change.
September 1, 2013
5 questions with Mary Ann Scully
Until a decade ago, Mary Ann Scully had been with First National Bank of Maryland — later Allfirst — for her entire banking career.
6:10 PM EDT, August 28, 2013
Price portfolio manager Timothy E. Parker to remain with company
Timothy E. Parker, manager of T. Rowe Price's New Era Fund who had announced earlier this year he would be leaving, has decided to remain with the Baltimore-based money manager, the company said.
3:05 PM EDT, September 3, 2013
Hopkins and Baltimore investment firm partner on internship program
Johns Hopkins University's Whiting School of Engineering said Tuesday it will partner with Campbell & Co., a Baltimore-based investment firm, in a teaching and internship program.
9:38 AM EDT, September 1, 2013
Marketing CEO for Columbia-based firm driven to race Porsches
David Williams' Columbia-based marketing company makes heavy use of data to help business clients reach customers and maintain their loyalty.
August 25, 2013
More parents are saving for college, Fidelity reports
Lisa Scott of Sparrows Point has seen young relatives graduate from college and struggle to keep up with $100,000 in education debt.
4:49 PM EDT, September 2, 2013
Maryland politicians throw support behind raising minimum wage
Momentum appears to be building to raise the minimum wage in Maryland, with key politicians recently announcing support to increase hourly pay to at least $10 an hour.
3:00 PM EDT, August 22, 2013
Medifast to start collect sales tax on online purchases
Medifast, a maker of weight-loss food products in Owings Mills, said it will begin collecting sales and use taxes on all Internet sales where applicable starting in September.
7:53 PM EDT, August 26, 2013
Former Marylander and his firm ordered to pay more than $600,000 to settle fraud case
A federal court in Maryland ordered a former Bowie man and his company to pay more than $600,000 in restitution and penalty to settle a foreign currency fraud complaint, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission said Monday.
6:00 PM EDT, August 19, 2013
Panda Power Funds announces plans to build power plant in Brandywine
Panda Power Funds, a private equity firm based in Dallas, said Monday that it plans to build and operate a power plant in Brandywine. The natural gas-fueled generating station will be able to supply power to about 859,000 homes in the Maryland-Washington area, the company said.
6:30 PM EDT, August 14, 2013
Founder of Carroll County company sentenced in securities fraud case
A Westminster man was sentenced to 37 months in prison Wednesday for securities fraud related to the sale of $1.9 million in stock in his company, according to federal prosecutors.
6:46 PM EDT, August 19, 2013
Maryland goes after payday lenders' banks to stop illegal loans
Maryland's financial regulator is trying to stop illegal online payday loans by going after the banks that help make the loans possible.
6:39 PM EDT, August 14, 2013
First Mariner reports $1.48 million loss
First Mariner Bancorp blamed rising interest rates and a slowdown in refinancings for its $1.48 million second quarter loss.
2:48 PM EDT, August 12, 2013
Target to hold job fair to hire for new Baltimore store
Target plans to hold a job fair this week to hire about 200 workers for its new store in Baltimore.
August 25, 2013
Who should be the next Federal Reserve chair?
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke plans to step down when his term expires at the end of January — if not sooner — and President Barack Obama is expected to nominate a successor this fall.
6:10 PM EDT, August 19, 2013
Maryland lost 9,200 jobs in July
Employers in Maryland cut 9,200 jobs in July, pushing the state's unemployment rate up to 7.1 percent, the U.S. Department of Labor said Monday.
3:03 PM EDT, August 12, 2013
Owings Mills developer and partner to build more than 1,250 apartments
Chesapeake Realty Partners of Owings Mills said it has partnered with Bernstein Management Corp. in Washington to build six apartment communities in Maryland, Virginia and Washington.
9:05 PM EDT, August 27, 2013
Washington group explores bid for 2024 Olympics
Baltimore-area venues would stage Olympic events under a Washington, D.C.-based group's plan to explore a bid to host the 2024 Summer Games.
August 12, 2013
Hundreds lend a hand to sew Star-Spangled Banner replica
On most days, Tony Wheeler of Arnold is a guide for a company that offers historic tours in Maryland. But on Sunday, Wheeler became part of history himself.
August 10, 2013
Bill Miller's fund is beating the market once more
During the depth of the 2008 financial crisis when Bill Miller's funds were in free fall, a colleague advised him to get a dog.
7:56 PM EDT, August 5, 2013
Patapsco Bancorp names new CEO
Patapsco Bancorp Inc. announced Monday that Phil Phillips has been named president and CEO of the Dundalk-based bank holding company.
4:00 PM EDT, July 30, 2013
Sourcefire reports $2.2 million quarterly profit
Sourcefire Inc., a Columbia-based cybersecurity company, reported it earned $2.2 million in the second quarter, or 7 cents per share. That compares with a $1.1 million profit, or 4 cents per share, a year ago.
August 11, 2013
Government works on rules for phased retirement
For the past year, the Office of Personnel Management has been working on regulations that will allow older federal workers to phase into retirement.
11:47 AM EDT, August 7, 2013
Legg Mason to shutter London-based boutique
Legg Mason Inc. announced Wednesday it would be shutting down its London-based emerging markets boutique and returning money to investors.
5:41 PM EDT, July 26, 2013
Small banks, credit unions try to lure customers with rewards program
Most checking accounts pay little or no interest, and fewer and fewer are free.
10:37 PM EDT, August 2, 2013
Congress reaches student loan deal that lowers rates for borrowers
With the start of classes just weeks away, Maryland financial aid directors sighed with relief that Congress has finally reached an agreement on student loan interest rates that will lower costs for borrowers this academic year.
7:04 PM EDT, July 25, 2013
Edgewood auto shop pleads guilty to false reporting
An Edgewood auto shop pleaded guilty to falsifying an inspection report two years ago on an underground gasoline storage tank, Maryland's attorney general announced Thursday.
3:58 PM EDT, July 26, 2013
TeleCommunication's revenue falls 19 percent with U.S. cutbacks
TeleCommunication Systems Inc., a provider of mobile communication technology, reported a 19 percent decline in revenue for the second quarter largely to a decline in sales to the U.S. government, a major customer.
7:04 PM EDT, July 25, 2013
Baltimore auto dealer pleads guilty to evading bank report to IRS
A Baltimore car dealer pleaded guilty in federal court to depositing more than $2 million in a way to avoid having the bank report the transactions to the Internal Revenue Service, prosecutors announced Thursday.
8:52 PM EDT, July 24, 2013
T. Rowe Price raises safety concerns as it weighs headquarters options
As T. Rowe Price weighs whether to remain at its Pratt Street headquarters in the heart of Baltimore, the safety of its employees is a key concern, the company's CEO said Wednesday.
6:00 PM EDT, July 25, 2013
Legg Mason earns $47.8 million in first quarter
Legg Mason Inc. reported better-than-expected earnings Thursday and its first quarter in years with more money flowing into its mutual funds than being withdrawn.
7:32 PM EDT, July 19, 2013
Five questions for Steve C. Huber
Investors for years have poured money into bonds despite the low yields, viewing them as low-risk and reliable. The trend has been so dominant that some experts have warned of a so-called "safety bubble."
6:32 PM EDT, July 23, 2013
Legg Mason names new chairman
Legg Mason Inc. announced the appointment of Dennis M. Kass, an independent director and former CEO, as its new chairman during the annual shareholders meeting Tuesday.
July 19, 2013
Venture capital investments in Maryland soar by 115% in second quarter
Venture capitalists invested $318 million in young Maryland companies from April through June, an increase of 115 percent from the first quarter, according to a report released Friday by PricewaterhouseCoopers.
4:50 PM EDT, July 11, 2013
EEOC sues owner of Extended Stay America hotel in St. Mary's Co.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission announced Thursday it has sued Extended Stay Hotels for paying women less than men performing the same work at the company's facility in Lexington Park.
5:04 PM EDT, July 15, 2013
T. Rowe Price continues to oppose Dell buyout offer
With a shareholder vote just days away, T. Rowe Price, one of Dell Inc.'s major investors, reaffirmed its opposition to a $24.4 billion buyout offer for the personal computer manufacturer.
6:32 PM EDT, July 15, 2013
SEC lifts advertising ban for private securities
Coming this fall: advertisements pitching the opportunity to buy into hedge funds, private equity funds or early-stage companies.
12:07 PM EDT, July 9, 2013
Lending increases to Maryland small businesses under federal program
Maryland institutions have increased their lending to small business under a federal program by nearly $337.7 million since the low point of the recession, the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced Tuesday.
7:12 PM EDT, July 24, 2013
T. Rowe Price raises safety concerns as it weighs headquarters options
As T. Rowe Price weighs whether to remain at its Pratt Street headquarters in the heart of Baltimore, the safety of its employees is a key concern, the company's CEO said Wednesday.
5:57 PM EDT, July 24, 2013
T. Rowe Price's earnings rise 20 percent but stock plunges
T. Rowe Price Group reported a 20 percent increase in earnings for the second quarter Wednesday, but a decline in assets under management when investors withdrew money contributed to a sharp sell-off of the company's stock.
7:35 PM EDT, July 22, 2013
Consumer group says blue-collar workers pay more for auto insurance
Baltimore residents with only a high school diploma and a blue-collar job often pay more for auto insurance than white-collar professionals with a college degree, according to a survey released Monday by the Consumer Federation of America.
5:45 PM EDT, July 12, 2013
Corporate boards look to high-profile directors
When T. Rowe Price Group looked to add a director to its board last month, the Baltimore money manager chose someone with widespread name recognition: former Sen. Olympia J. Snowe of Maine.
7:17 PM EDT, July 5, 2013
Maryland casinos' June revenue reaches $66.5 million
Maryland's four casinos took in about $66.5 million in revenue in June, capping a fiscal year in which they far exceeded expectations, the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency announced Friday.
7:04 PM EDT, July 8, 2013
Legg Mason's Bill Miller at top again in WSJ ranking
Baltimore's Legg Mason Opportunity Trust, co-managed by well-known stock-picker Bill Miller, is the top-ranked U.S. diversified stock fund for the third consecutive quarter, according to a Wall Street Journal ranking.
6:48 PM EDT, July 1, 2013
Access to SSI payments temporarily disrupted
Supplemental Security Income payments to adults and children with disabilities were temporarily unavailable during an intermittent outage in the early-morning hours Monday, the U.S. Treasury Department's Bureau of Fiscal Service said Monday.
6:58 PM EDT, July 1, 2013
Interest rates to double on new student loans
Financial aid directors at Maryland colleges hope that members of Congress will return from their July 4 recess and reverse the doubling of the interest rate on new federal loans for financially needy students.
8:38 PM EDT, June 17, 2013
Marylanders aren't shy about complaining
Marylanders are big complainers.
June 24, 2013
Study says Maryland 10th in nation in child well-being
Maryland, which has seen improvements in childhood education and health in recent years, ranks No. 10 in the country for overall child well-being, according to a report released today by the Baltimore-based Annie E. Casey Foundation.
5:39 PM EDT, June 20, 2013
Ex-Maine senator Olympia Snowe joins T. Rowe Price board
Olympia J. Snowe, the former Republican senator from Maine, has joined T. Rowe Price Group's board of directors, the Baltimore-based money manager announced Thursday.
5:15 PM EDT, June 27, 2013
Milford Mill Swim Club sold for $775,000 at auction
The storied Milford Mill Swim Club in Baltimore County sold at auction Thursday for $775,000 to a religious group, said Dan Billig, managing member of A. J. Billig & Co. Auctioneers.
4:20 PM EDT, June 29, 2013
Legg Mason's flagship Value Trust fund no longer lagging
The Legg Mason Capital Management Value Trust fund is doing something not seen in years: It's beating the stock market.
6:52 PM EDT, June 16, 2013
Sister Marie Vincent Brothers, artist and teacher
Sister Marie Vincent Brothers, a member of the School Sisters of Notre Dame who spent nearly three decades as a teacher and graphics designer at Notre Dame of Maryland University and was once described as one of the "swingingest" nuns, died June 8 at Maria Health Care Center in Baltimore County of lymphoma. She was 86.
8:24 PM EDT, June 17, 2013
Is Maryland headed for a wave of bank mergers?
In less than a week, three bank acquisitions, one involving the parent of Baltimore County Savings Bank, have been announced in the Mid-Atlantic region.
8:26 PM EDT, June 10, 2013
Regulators and consumer advocates focus on senior identity theft
Older consumers are no more vulnerable to identity theft than others, but they do tend to be victims of the types of ID theft that are on the rise — cases involving tax returns and medical care.
7:58 PM EDT, June 5, 2013
Revenue at Maryland's casinos reaches $69.2 million in May
Revenue at the state's casinos climbed to nearly $69.2 million in May, the first full month of table games at Maryland Live Casino as well as the initial days of the state's newest casino in Allegany County, the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency reported Wednesday.
9:51 PM EDT, June 14, 2013
F.N.B. to buy parent of Baltimore County Savings Bank
F.N.B. Corp. announced Friday it plans to acquire BCSB Bancorp, the parent of Baltimore County Savings Bank, in a stock swap valued at about $79 million.
3:31 PM EDT, June 8, 2013
NSA surveillance sparks privacy debate
You make a call from your land line or text a friend from your smartphone. You browse an online retailer for clothing, a book or music; you create a wish list or write a review.
May 28, 2013
T. Rowe Price, Legg Mason offering up ultrashort-term bond funds
Baltimore's two major mutual fund companies have joined a small but growing number of investment firms offering ultrashort-term bond funds, which may become an alternative to the traditional money market fund.
6:34 PM EDT, June 12, 2013
Legg Mason's new CEO sees compensation more than double
The compensation of Legg Mason Inc.'s CEO and chief financial officer more than doubled over the year that ended March 31, according to a proxy statement filed Wednesday with regulators.
10:42 AM EDT, June 6, 2013
Legg Mason Inc. expands board by adding two directors
Legg Mason Inc. has expanded its board of directors, adding two independent members, the Baltimore based money manager announced Thursday.
6:33 PM EDT, May 13, 2013
Watch out for unauthorized charges on cellphone bills
Take a line-by-line look at your cellphone bill — all dozen or so pages. See a $9.99 charge for horoscopes, flirting tips or some such thing that you didn't request?
6:37 PM EDT, May 31, 2013
Joseph Haskins Jr. navigated Harbor Bank of Maryland through tough times
At one point during the three years that Harbor Bank of Maryland operated under heightened federal scrutiny, a regulator asked CEO Joseph Haskins Jr. why he stuck it out. Why not just retire?
10:09 AM EDT, May 30, 2013
T. Rowe Price announces sale of its bank
T. Rowe Price said it was selling its bank to New York financier Jacob M. Safra for about $24 million in light of new banking regulations that would limit other aspects of the Baltimore-based money manager's business.
1:54 PM EDT, May 20, 2013
State, economic group launch program to help companies to grow
The Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore and the Maryland Department of Business of Economic Development announced Monday that they created a new program to help companies that have moved beyond the start-up phase to continue to grow.
June 9, 2013
Five questions for ... Mark Stoeckle
For more than two decades, Baltimore fund companies Adams Express Co. and Petroleum & Resources Corp. had been under the direction of a single CEO and chairman.
5:46 PM EDT, May 24, 2013
Regulators issue order against Talbot County bank
Talbot Bank of Easton, Maryland said Friday it has entered into a consent order with federal and state regulators.
10:49 AM EDT, May 27, 2013
T. Rowe Price sees unusual turnover in portfolio managers
T. Rowe Price has a reputation as a place where portfolio managers can spend their entire careers.
1:11 PM EDT, May 22, 2013
T. Rowe Price announces new series of target-date retirement funds
T. Rowe Price plans to launch a new series of 11 target-date retirement funds later this summer, the Baltimore-based money manager said Wednesday.
3:54 PM EDT, May 3, 2013
T. Rowe Price to lose another money manager
Timothy E. Parker, manager of T. Rowe Price's New Era Fund for the past three years, will leave the the Baltimore-based money manager by the end of September, the company said.
12:41 PM EDT, May 28, 2013
Small business loan program launched in Anne Arundel
Anne Arundel Economic Development Corp. on Wednesday will kick-off a small business loan fund that will lend $3.36 million in Maryland. As part of the launch, the development group will hold a press conference at the offices of the first loan recipient, Brick House LLC, at 1 p.m. in the Conte Office Park in Annapolis.
7:15 PM EDT, May 14, 2013
First Mariner Bancorp decides not to bid for arena naming rights
For a decade, 1st Mariner's name adorned the Baltimore arena, but now the bank's parent company says it does not plan to bid for naming rights that expired last year.
May 11, 2013
T. Rowe Price loses another fund manager
T. Rowe Price lost another one of its fund managers, the third this year.
6:16 PM EDT, May 6, 2013
Maryland Live sees slot revenue fall as table games start
Table games at Maryland Live Casino generated $8.4 million in revenue in their first month at the Anne Arundel County facility, on top of $38.2 million from its slot machines, the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency reported Monday.
8:13 PM EDT, April 24, 2013
T. Rowe Price weighs headquarters move
T. Rowe Price, a fixture in downtown Baltimore since its founding 76 years ago, is considering moving its headquarters once its current lease expires in 2017, the company said Wednesday.
1:33 PM EDT, April 23, 2013
Legg Mason Inc. increases quarterly dividend
Legg Mason Inc. on Tuesday announced a quarterly divided of 13 cents per share, an 18 percent increase. The Baltimore-based money manager said the dividend will be paid on July 8 for those who are shareholders as of June 11.
7:29 PM EDT, April 29, 2013
Some college students could pay higher interest rate on federal loans
College students taking out subsidized federal student loans will see their interest rate double in July unless Congress comes to the rescue.
1:07 PM EDT, May 22, 2013
Two key employees leave Legg Mason Capital Management
Legg Mason Inc. has lost two key employees of its Legg Mason Capital Management, including portfolio manager Mary Chris Gay.
7:49 PM EDT, May 15, 2013
Maryland economy will continue to feel government spending cuts
Maryland for years benefited from its close proximity to the nation's capital, but the mandatory federal spending cuts called sequestration will be a drag on the state's economy for the next couple of years, said the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond.
10:42 AM EDT, April 22, 2013
Venture capital funding increases in region in first quarter
Venture capitalists poured $286.3 million into 30 deals in Maryland, Washington and Northern Virginia during the first quarter, compared with $219.7 million invested in 45 deals a year ago, according to the MoneyTree Report by PricewaterhouseCoopers.
3:25 PM EDT, May 16, 2013
Price's Brian Rogers throws his support behind Jamie Dimon
Brian Rogers, manager of the T. Rowe Price Equity Income Fund in Baltimore, won't be voting the fund's shares in support of splitting the role of CEO and chairman at JPMorgan Chase & Co.
2:19 PM EDT, May 3, 2013
Legg Mason CEO awarded 500,000 in options to purchase stock
Legg Mason Inc.'s compensation committee awarded CEO Joseph A. Sullivan options to purchase a half million shares of the company stock at $31.46 per share, the Baltimore-based money manager announced in a regulatory filing.
8:16 PM EDT, April 23, 2013
Price discusses ETFs and tax policy at annual meeting
After T. Rowe Price executives recapped last year's highlights at Tuesday's annual meeting, a shareholder raised concerns about the loss of a top money manager, competition from exchange-traded funds and an Obama Administration tax proposal that could dampen Price's retirement business.
April 21, 2013
Md. consumers made several gains in latest legislative session
Consumer advocates say they didn't get everything on their wish list during the latest meeting of the General Assembly, but the session produced several victories for Maryland consumers.
4:44 PM EDT, May 10, 2013
Three operators submit bids for license for Prince George's casino
Two more bidders emerged Friday to compete against MGM National Harbor for the right to build a casino in Prince George's County.
1:35 PM EDT, April 22, 2013
Parents of Bay Bank and Carrollton Bank complete merger
Jefferson Bancorp Inc., parent of Lutherville-based Bay Bank, said Monday it had completed its acquisition of Carrollton Bancorp, the holding company of Columbia-based Carrollton Bank.
5:45 PM EDT, April 24, 2013
T. Rowe Price profit rose 22 percent in first quarter
T. Rowe Price Group reported Wednesday that profit rose 22 percent in the quarter from a year ago to $241.9 million, buoyed by an uptick in the market that pushed assets under management to a new record.
11:14 PM EDT, May 8, 2013
Federal workers relieved by limits on online disclosures
Details of financial transactions by members of Congress and thousands of high-level federal workers were supposed to be posted online last month for anyone in the world to see — a key step, supporters of the move said, toward greater transparency in government.
April 18, 2013
Arbitron shareholders approve sale to Nielsen
Shareholders of Arbitron Inc. overwhelmingly approved the sale of the Columbia-based company to Nielsen Holdings N.V. during a special stockholders meeting Tuesday.
4:18 PM EDT, May 2, 2013
Harbor Bankshares out from under regulatory enforcement orders
The Federal Reserve Board announced Thursday that it terminated an enforcement action against Baltimore-based Harbor Bankshares Corp.
4:44 PM EDT, April 19, 2013
Top First Mariner executive earned $495,362 last year
Compensation for First Mariner Bancorp's top executive reached $495,362 last year, about double from a year ago thanks to a bonus, according to a company filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
April 21, 2013
5 questions with … Stuart L. Ritter
As a senior financial planner with Baltimore money manager T. Rowe Price, Stuart Ritter spends much of his time on the job — and off — educating people about personal finance.
7:28 PM EDT, April 8, 2013
Florida insurer refunds $312,551 to Marylanders
A Florida insurance company has repaid $312,551 to thousands of Marylanders after overcharging them on life and health benefits, the Maryland Insurance Administration said Monday.
5:15 PM EDT, April 16, 2013
Former top T. Rowe Price manager to launch Baltimore hedge fund
Kris H. Jenner, the manager of T. Rowe Price Health Sciences Fund until his resignation in February, has raised more than $100 million to launch a Baltimore-based hedge fund, Bloomberg News reported.
5:38 PM EDT, April 30, 2013
Legg Mason reports $29.2M fourth-quarter profit, loss for year
Legg Mason Inc. reported Tuesday that it earned $29.2 million in its fourth quarter, down about 62 percent from a year earlier due to added real estate expenses.
11:05 AM EDT, April 5, 2013
Maryland's three casinos generated $58 million in revenue in March
Revenue at Maryland's three casinos in March reached $58 million, with two that have been opened for at least a year seeing a decrease from a year earlier, the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency reported Friday.
5:31 PM EDT, April 4, 2013
MECU to acquire Advance Bank in Baltimore
Municipal Employees Credit Union of Baltimore Inc. announced Thursday that it had agreed to acquire Advance Bank, another Baltimore-based institution.
April 14, 2013
With tax returns due Monday, here's advice for last-minute filers
For taxpayers who work best under the pressure of a deadline ... well, that's now.
7:40 PM EDT, April 5, 2013
Welsh Construction Remodeling no longer licensed in Maryland
Welsh Construction Remodeling, an award-winning Baltimore home improvement company that has renovated kitchens and bathrooms for decades, no longer has a license to take on new projects in Maryland, state regulators said.
March 31, 2013
40% of older households in Md. ill-prepared for retirement, study finds
At an age when many workers are thinking about winding down their careers, Victoria Baldassano of Silver Spring says she can't afford to give retirement a thought.
7:16 PM EDT, April 8, 2013
Maryland lawmakers pass bill to boost public-private partnerships
Maryland's deteriorating infrastructure could receive a boost from private investor dollars, thanks to legislation passed Monday designed to enhance public-private partnerships.
9:17 PM EDT, April 5, 2013
Government, unions offer advice, answers on furloughs
As thousands of federal workers prepare to be furloughed, many are concerned about how to deal with a pay cut.
7:00 PM EDT, April 7, 2013
Raymond L. Klingmeyer
Raymond Leroy Klingmeyer, a former boxer and referee who is a member of the state's boxing Hall of Fame, died Friday of renal failure at the Bel Air Health and Rehabilitation Center. He was 88.
5:21 PM EDT, April 3, 2013
W. R. Grace & Co. announces Australian acquisition
W. R. Grace & Co. of Columbia announced Wednesday that it acquired an Australian manufacturer of waterproofing and coatings systems for an undisclosed sum.
5:04 PM EDT, April 3, 2013
Jos. A. Bank's fourth-quarter profit falls 36 percent
Jos. A. Bank Clothiers Inc. reported Wednesday that it earned $28.4 million in the fourth quarter, a nearly 36 percent drop from the corresponding quarter a year earlier, according to a regulatory filing.
2:41 PM EDT, April 5, 2013
New focus on laws that make adult children responsible for a parent's care bills
John Pittas' mother spent six months in a Pennsylvania facility recovering after an auto accident, then moved to Greece to be with her other children.
March 23, 2013
What hiring freeze? Federal government continues to post job openings
While hundreds of thousands of federal workers brace for unpaid furloughs starting next month, Uncle Sam is still looking to hire.
6:25 PM EDT, April 2, 2013
Legg Mason CEO shuffles executive team
Legg Mason Inc.'s new CEO, Joseph A. Sullivan, announced Tuesday a shake-up of his executive team and the exit of some top officials, including one who had been in the running for chief executive.
7:26 PM EDT, March 28, 2013
Sodexo Inc. to lay off 190 workers in Baltimore
Sodexo Inc. plans to lay off 190 workers in May at its operations at Loyola University Maryland, the state Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation said Thursday. The Gaithersburg-based company told regulators that the school at 4501 N. Charles St., Baltimore, will no longer be using Sodexo's food services, causing the company to close its facility there and lay off workers on May 31.
5:19 PM EDT, March 25, 2013
High Street Partners receives $8 million in financing
High Street Partners, a business software and services company based in Annapolis, said Monday it received $8 million in financing, the largest round of funding in its 10-year history.
5:33 PM EDT, April 1, 2013
Howard Bank to expand into Harford County
Howard Bank has agreed to buy Cecil Bank's branch at 3 W. Bel Air Ave. in Aberdeen, the institutions announced Monday.
8:12 PM EDT, March 25, 2013
Consumer groups fear that debtors' prisons are making a resurgence
When a warrant for his arrest arrived at his mother's house, Bryan Bookman went to the district court in Essex to clear up the matter.
7:14 PM EDT, March 15, 2013
As stock market breaks records, Legg Mason Inc.'s shares hit yearly high
Legg Mason Inc.'s stock, which has struggled to recover from the financial crisis, hit a new 52-week high last week.
4:57 PM EDT, April 2, 2013
First Mariner corrects preliminary earnings report
First Mariner Bancorp on Tuesday said it was correcting preliminary earnings figures released earlier for 2012, reducing its annual non-interest income by $892,000.
March 17, 2013
5 questions for … Daniel J. Schrider
A decade ago, Maryland's three largest banks were based in Baltimore.
2:56 PM EDT, March 19, 2013
Fort Meade reaches agreement with union on furloughs
Fort Meade announced Tuesday that it has reached an agreement with the union representing Department of Defense employees on how proposed civilian furloughs will be handled.
1:42 PM EDT, March 24, 2013
Baltimore Fire Department investigates Cherry Hill fire
The Baltimore City Fire Department is investigating the cause of a fire Sunday morning at 3023 La Rue Square in the Cherry Hill neighborhood, according to Lt. Paul Novak.
7:21 PM EDT, March 24, 2013
At start of Passover, Baltimore congregants embrace message of peace
As members of the B'nai Israel Congregation in downtown Baltimore on Sunday discussed preparations for the start of Passover, they also reflected on President Barack Obama's recent visit to Israel.
6:35 PM EDT, March 21, 2013
Epic Games closes Baltimore County location
Epic Games Inc., a North Carolina-based video game manufacturer, closed its office in Baltimore County last month, laying off 40 employees, Maryland's Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation said Thursday.
March 19, 2013
Workers' confidence about future retirement sinks
The economy is improving and so is employment, but workers' optimism about a comfortable retirement has fallen to a new low, according to the annual Retirement Confidence Survey released Tuesday.
2:33 PM EDT, March 16, 2013
Former Hebron Savings Bank employee sentenced for embezzlement
A former vice president of Hebron Savings Bank in Wicomico County was sentenced to 18 months in prison for embezzlement and ordered to pay $456,665 in restitution, federal prosecutors said Thursday.
7:30 PM EST, March 8, 2013
Wall Street shrugs off sequester
The drumbeat for weeks has been that $85 billion in across-the-board federal spending cuts known as the sequester would be so horrendous for the economy that lawmakers in Washington would be forced to compromise by the March 1 deadline.
March 17, 2013
Sequester will affect financial aid for the coming academic year
The across-the-board federal spending cuts known as the sequester come at a bad time for Maryland colleges.
4:35 PM EDT, March 11, 2013
Virginia company may lay off nearly 480 in Maryland
A Virginia-based company that provides information technology, management and other services to the federal government warned regulators that it might layoff 478 workers in Maryland, the state said Friday.
9:45 AM EDT, March 13, 2013
Legg Mason Inc. completes Fauchier Partners acquisition
Legg Mason Inc. said Wednesday that it completed the acquisition of Fauchier Partners, a European money manager acquired from BNP Paribas Investment Partners.
6:17 PM EST, March 7, 2013
Annapolis Bancorp repays remaining TARP funds
Annapolis Bancorp Inc. said it has repaid $4.07 million to the U.S. Treasury, wiping out the bank holding company's remaining obligation under the federal Troubled Asset Relief Program.
11:46 AM EST, February 20, 2013
Creditors file involuntary bankruptcy against Commerce Corp.
Several creditors of Commerce Corp. filed an involuntary bankruptcy petition against the Maryland-based distributor of lawn and garden supplies.
8:37 PM EST, March 6, 2013
Costco CEO joins effort to raise Maryland's minimum wage
Costco and the U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce are among more than 70 businesses and groups that support raising the minimum wage in Maryland, according Raise Maryland, a group advocating for a higher wage.
6:30 PM EST, January 24, 2013
Micros Systems' earnings rise by 15 percent in the second quarter
Micros Systems Inc. reported Thursday it earned $44.1 million in the second quarter ended in December, about a 15 percent increase from a year earlier.
4:36 PM EST, March 5, 2013
Legg CFO says company might trim laggard funds and reduce office space
Legg Mason Inc. might eliminate some of its less popular investment funds and some of its 32 offices as it continues to look at ways to operate more efficiently, the chief financial officer of the Baltimore-based money manager said Tuesday.
7:13 PM EST, March 4, 2013
Big Lots Stores to buy Commerce Corp. inventory
Big Lots Stores Inc. has agreed to purchase inventory from the financially ailing Commerce Corp. for an amount expected to top $6 million, according to recent bankruptcy court documents.
3:02 PM EST, February 11, 2013
Report: Legg Mason to announce new CEO this week
The Wall Street Journal reported Monday that Legg Mason Inc. is expected to announce its new CEO as early as Wednesday and also will likely name a new independent board member.
7:41 PM EST, March 4, 2013
How companies can make sure their payroll service provider is paying their taxes
Many Maryland businesses rely on a payroll service provider to handle their tax withholdings, but they still need to make sure the Internal Revenue Service gets its due.
7:26 PM EST, January 28, 2013
Legg Mason seeks to sublease space at Harbor East headquarters
Legg Mason Inc. is looking to sublease 78,000 square feet on three floors at its headquarters in Harbor East.
3:01 PM EST, January 22, 2013
Legg Mason Inc. to take $734 million charge
Legg Mason Inc. will take a $734 million impairment charge largely related to a drop in value of certain fund contracts, the Baltimore-based money manager disclosed Tuesday in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
7:04 PM EST, January 23, 2013
URS Corp. notifies state of possible layoffs
An engineering, construction and technical services firm notified the state that it might lay off 31 employees next month, Maryland's Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation said Wednesday. California-based URS Corp. said possible layoffs could occur at its operations on MacArthur Road at Fort Meade and 430 National Business Parkway in Annapolis Junction. If layoffs happen, they would take effect at the close of business on Feb. 27th, the state said. The company declined to comment.
8:18 PM EST, February 14, 2013
T. Rowe Price loses fund manager and two analysts
The manager of one of T. Rowe Price's top funds and two analysts have resigned, effective Friday.
6:54 PM EST, February 1, 2013
Legg Mason reports loss of nearly $454 million
Legg Mason Inc. reported Friday a $453.9 million loss for the third quarter, following a previously announced $734 million writedown of certain assets.
9:12 PM EST, January 28, 2013
New CEO named for Adams Express and Petroleum & Resources funds
Mark E. Stoeckle has been named CEO of Baltimore-based Adams Express Co. and Petroleum & Resources Corp., replacing Douglas G. Ober, who last year announced his intention to retire.
February 24, 2013
Retailers may charge fee to customers paying with credit cards
Customers at Towson Hot Bagels usually pay with credit, not cash, when buying a bagel or a bottle of water, triggering fees the merchant must pay to process each transaction.
8:33 PM EST, February 8, 2013
Industry experts suggest what Legg Mason's new CEO must do
After more than four months without a permanent leader, Legg Mason Inc.'s search for a new CEO might finally be near the end.
6:25 PM EST, January 7, 2013
Maryland's casinos took in $45.2 million last month
Maryland's three casinos generated $45.2 million in revenue in December, with most of that from the state's largest and newest casino, Maryland Live — and at the expense of the state's oldest.
February 17, 2013
Legg Mason's new CEO draws lessons from hockey
Raymond "Chip" Mason first met Joseph A. Sullivan over dinner at a Chicago restaurant, where the founder of Legg Mason Inc. interviewed the young bond trading manager for a job with the Baltimore company.
4:57 PM EST, January 11, 2013
Legg Mason stock slides a day after rising on sale rumor
Legg Mason Inc.'s stock retreated Friday, a day after shares shot up on a report that the company's board rejected — at least for now — a proposal by senior managers at its affiliates and private equity investors to take the company private.
January 30, 2013
Tax tips just in time for the launch of filing season
Tax season officially kicks off Wednesday, later than usual because lawmakers only this month passed legislation to address expired tax cuts. The IRS needed time to update its forms and systems.
7:06 PM EST, February 13, 2013
Sullivan named Legg Mason CEO and president
Legg Mason Inc. chose an insider as its new CEO, quelling speculation that the Baltimore-based money manager might be headed for a breakup that could have been bad news for the city.
4:21 PM EST, February 7, 2013
Legg Mason pays at least $80 million for European money manager
Legg Mason Inc. said it agreed to pay $80 million for European fund manager Fauchier Partners, plus as much as an additional $56 million in the next four years if certain financial targets are achieved.
6:51 PM EST, February 19, 2013
Millennial Media reports 4th-quarter profit, but annual loss
Millennial Media Inc., a Baltimore-based mobile advertising company, reported Tuesday that it earned a $2.6 million profit, or 3 cents per share, in the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31.
10:53 PM EST, December 28, 2012
Investment outlook for 2013 clouded by uncertainty
Usually by early December, investment professionals have mapped out their outlook for the next year.
January 1, 2013
U.S. stocks end higher despite negative news much of year
Despite all the cliff drama in the past week that sent stocks spiraling downward, all three major U.S. stock indices ended the year higher — which might come as a surprise to many investors
6:30 PM EST, January 29, 2013
T. Rowe Price reports 23 percent increase in earnings in 4th quarter
T. Rowe Price Group on Tuesday reported a $232 million profit for the fourth quarter, a 23 percent increase from a year earlier.
6:35 PM EST, February 28, 2013
Is STOCK Act government transparency or invasion of privacy?
Dr. Joshua Zimmerberg says he's careful not to publicly disclose any personal information that could be of use to identity thieves.
5:54 PM EST, January 21, 2013
Venture capital for companies in the Maryland region drops nearly 27 percent
Uncertainty over the economy contributed to a nearly 27 percent drop last year in venture capital funding for young companies in Maryland, Washington and Northern Virginia, the first decrease since 2009, according to a new report from PricewaterhouseCoopers.
8:20 PM EST, January 18, 2013
Tessco Technology's stock falls after earnings release
Tessco Technologies Inc. of Hunt Valley reported Friday that its profits increased in its third quarter over the year before, although revenue was down by about 10 percent.
7:34 PM EST, February 21, 2013
T. Rowe Price raises quarterly dividend
T. Rowe Price Group announced Thursday it was raising its quarterly dividend by 12 percent to 38 cents per share. The dividend will be paid March 27 to those who are shareholders as of March 13.
5:19 PM EST, February 8, 2013
Baltimore man pleads guilty to mail fraud in financial scheme
A Baltimore man claiming to be a financial adviser who could produce high returns without high risk pleaded guilty Friday to mail fraud in connection with a scheme that bilked $890,000 from clients, according to federal and state prosecutors.
5:15 PM EST, January 4, 2013
Legg Mason Capital Management's chief investment strategist resigns
Legg Mason Capital Management's chief investment strategist, Michael J. Mauboussin, resigned as of Jan. 2, said Mary Athridge, Legg Mason Inc.'s spokeswoman.
5:28 PM EST, January 30, 2013
Treasury auctions stake in Delmar Bancorp
The Treasury Department announced Wednesday that it raised $191.3 million in its latest auction of TARP securities, including $5.8 million for its stake in Delmar Bancorp in Salisbury.
2:17 PM EST, December 21, 2012
Historic Burleigh Cottage sells for $1.1 million
Burleigh Cottage, an historic Howard County house whose origins go back to the late 1700s, sold in October for $1.1 million.
11:15 PM EST, January 23, 2013
Five questions for ... Robin McKinney
This is the busiest time of year for Robin McKinney.
7:01 PM EST, January 31, 2013
First Mariner posts fourth quarterly profit in a row
First Mariner Bancorp reported Thursday it earned about $1.6 million in the fourth quarter, the fourth quarter in a row that the Baltimore parent of 1st Mariner Bank posted a profit.
9:55 AM EST, January 27, 2013
Campaign rules for federal employees get an update
Even as Congress and the White House appeared to be at a standoff over the fiscal cliff last month, lawmakers and the president were able to agree on at least one thing: an update of the Hatch Act.
2:07 PM EST, January 16, 2013
Baltimore's R2integrated receives investment from Dallas private equity company
Dallas-based Orix Private Equity announced Wednesday it has invested an undisclosed amount in Baltimore-based R2integrated, which the digital marketing and technology company hopes to use to expand rapidly in the next few years.
7:53 PM EST, January 14, 2013
T. Rowe Price, Legg Mason get approval to launch active ETFs
Baltimore-based money managers T. Rowe Price and Legg Mason Inc. may offer actively managed exchange-traded funds after receiving a thumbs up from regulators.
6:47 PM EST, December 27, 2012
Maryland lawn and garden supply distributor announces layoffs
Commerce Corp., a Maryland-based distributor of lawn and garden supplies, said Thursday it is laying off some employees as it seeks to find a buyer or develop a new format.
8:00 PM EST, January 17, 2013
Storied Legg Mason unit to merge into New York sister subsidiary
Legg Mason Inc. plans to lay off an undisclosed number of employees as it folds its once high-profile Legg Mason Capital Management unit in Baltimore into a much larger investment division based in New York.
11:35 PM EST, January 4, 2013
High earner? Here's how the 'fiscal cliff' deal affects you
For better or worse, Marylanders may be more affected by the fiscal cliff tax deal than residents in other parts of the country.
10:47 AM EST, January 3, 2013
UMBC President Freeman A. Hrabowski III joins T. Rowe Price board
Freeman A. Hrabowski III, president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, has joined the board of T. Rowe Price Group as an independent director, the Baltimore-based investment firm announced Thursday.
8:34 PM EST, December 18, 2012
Columbia-based Arbitron to be acquired by Nielsen
The company that helps TV networks determine what shows get canceled or live for another season is buying the Columbia-based company that helps radio stations decide whether to change formats.
8:34 AM EST, December 13, 2012
Legg Mason plans to acquire European provider of funds of hedge funds
Baltimore-based Legg Mason Inc. announced Thursday morning it has agreed to acquire Fauchier Partners, a manager of funds of hedge funds based in Europe. The terms of the deal were not disclosed. Fauchier will be merged into Legg's subsidiary Permal, an alternative asset manager. As a result of the combination, Permal will have about $24 billion assets under management and offices in nine locations worldwide, Legg Mason said. The deal is expected to close in the first quarter of next year.
7:13 PM EST, January 3, 2013
Maryland lawn and garden distributor laying off up to 70 employees
Commerce Corp., a lawn and garden supplies distributor based in Curtis Bay, notified state regulators that it was laying off between 60 and 70 workers.
7:16 PM EST, December 11, 2012
T. Rowe Price substantially reduces its stake in Groupon
T. Rowe Price had reduced its stake in daily deal website Groupon, while increasing its ownership in Kayak Software Corp., the travel comparison site, according to filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
December 7, 2012
T. Rowe Price to issue special dividend
Baltimore-based T. Rowe Price announced Thursday it will pay a special cash dividend before the end of the year, joining other companies that are declaring extra dividends in case taxes go up in 2013. Price will pay $1 per share on Dec. 28th to shareholders of record as Dec. 17th for a total payout of about $255 million. The Bush-era tax cuts are expected to expire at the end of the year. If the White House and Congress can't work out a compromise, dividend income will once more be taxed at ordinary income tax rates, which could be as high as 39.6 percent.
8:54 PM EST, December 18, 2012
Treasury plans auction of securities in 53 banks
The Treasury Department said Tuesday that it would auction off securities it acquired in 53 banks, including two in Maryland.
5:14 PM EST, December 14, 2012
Plethora of employment programs can overwhelm wounded veterans
Wounded soldiers returning from war can find plenty of programs through nonprofits and the government that offer to help them re-enter the workforce.
7:12 PM EST, December 12, 2012
Marylanders make financial moves to protect against 'fiscal cliff'
Some citizens aren't waiting to find out if the White House and Republicans in Congress will be able to reach a last-minute deal to pull the country away from the "fiscal cliff."
5:28 PM EST, December 7, 2012
Maryland's smaller banks may be headed for a wave of mergers
It's the billion-dollar question for Maryland banks: Do they need at least that much in assets to survive?
7:32 PM EST, December 12, 2012
Legg Mason accelerates dividend payment
Legg Mason Inc. announced Wednesday that it would accelerate a quarterly dividend that was to be paid out in January. The cash dividend of 11 cents per share will be paid out on Dec. 28, instead of Jan. 7. The Baltimore-based investment company becomes the latest to rush to make dividend payments before the end of the year, while the tax rate on this income is still 15 percent. Unless a deal is reached between Congress and the White House, dividend income next year will once more be taxed as regular income, which could be as high as 39.6 percent.
5:37 PM EST, December 9, 2012
Harry D. Grunwell, retired Army warrant officer and linguist, dies at 66
Harry Dutton Grunwell, a retired Army warrant officer with a talent for linguistics and computers, died Dec. 5 at Howard County General Hospital from complications of multiple sclerosis. The Marriottsville resident was 66.
6:56 PM EST, December 7, 2012
Five questions …
No question, it's been a tough economy for many nonprofits to raise money. But Marriottsville-based DonorSearch, launched the same year the economy plunged into the latest recession, has developed a database to help nonprofits identify which of their contributors are more likely to give more if asked and what type of gift they are likely to make, said CEO Bill Tedesco.
5:01 PM EST, December 5, 2012
CFG Community Bank lays off six
CFG Community Bank laid off six employees last week in its operations and branch network, the Baltimore-based bank said.
2:50 PM EDT, November 2, 2012
Open enrollment is here for many workers
You might not have received your open enrollment package yet, but you probably know what to expect: Higher premiums. More out-of-pocket costs. Enticements to participate in wellness programs.
6:30 PM EST, November 6, 2012
Locust Point and Fells Point banks set to merge
Two small thrifts founded many decades ago to cater to Baltimore's immigrant population could merge as early as the end of November following approval Monday by a federal regulator.
5:28 PM EST, December 2, 2012
Daniel M. McGuiness, retired professor
Daniel M. McGuiness, a retired associate professor of writing at Loyola University Maryland who influenced a younger generation of editors and writers, died Nov. 18of Parkinson's disease. He was 69.
November 25, 2012
What's next after Black Friday and Cyber Monday?
After the big shopping days of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, nonprofits across the country want you to spend more — on Giving Tuesday.
11:25 AM EDT, October 30, 2012
In aftermath of Sandy, some stores, businesses reopen
As the Baltimore area deals with the loss of power and closed and flooded roads in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, some stores and businesses plan to reopen Tuesday but others remain closed.
November 4, 2012
Employers hit by rising health costs look to high-deductible plans
There's a good chance during open enrollment this fall that you will be offered a high-deductible insurance plan with a savings account — if you haven't already been nudged into one.
7:46 PM EST, November 9, 2012
First Mariner withdraws from Priam Capital deal
First Mariner Bancorp announced Friday that it is dropping out of an agreement that called for Priam Capital Fund I, a New York investment firm, to invest $36.4 million in the Baltimore-based bank holding company.
1:59 PM EST, November 24, 2012
Ranking agencies by job satisfaction
Travelers gripe about having to remove shoes while going through airport security or undergoing full-body pat-downs. But imagine being the Transportation Security Administration screener who has to deal with thousands of grumpy passengers daily or must rummage through strangers' dirty underwear to look for items that could blow up a plane.
7:17 PM EST, November 16, 2012
Ten Maryland banks remain in TARP, while Treasury winds down program
Delmar Bancorp has no regrets about taking a $9 million investment from the federal Troubled Asset Relief Program, even though some banks have rushed for the exit.
7:27 PM EDT, October 24, 2012
Patapsco Bank's parent posts $365,000 profit
Patapsco Bancorp of Dundalk reported Wednesday that it earned $365,000, or 18 cents per share, in the first quarter ended in September. That's an increase from a year earlier, when the parent of Patapsco Bank posted a profit of $128,000, or 7 cents a share.
6:11 PM EDT, October 31, 2012
First Mariner Bancorp reports third quarterly profit in a row
First Mariner Bancorp reported Wednesday that it earned $7.9 million in the quarter ended in September, the third quarter in a row that the struggling parent of 1st Mariner Bank reported a profit.
11:05 AM EDT, October 24, 2012
T. Rowe Price reports profit of $247.3 million in third-quarter
Buoyed by rising assets under management and market gains, T. Rowe Price Group reported Wednesday that it earned $247.3 million, or 94 cents per share, for the third quarter.
10:30 AM EDT, October 28, 2012
As political rhetoric fires up, federal workers feel the heat
You can't blame federal workers if they're feeling like a punching bag for politicians these days.
2:46 PM EDT, October 4, 2012
Hamilton Bank depositors OK conversion to stock company
Depositors of Towson-based Hamilton Bank have approved the conversion of the bank to a publicly traded holding company, to be called Hamilton Bancorp, the company announced Thursday.
2:47 PM EST, November 9, 2012
Most households will pay thousands of dollars more in taxes if politicians can't compromise
President Barack Obama signaled on election night that he's willing to work with leaders in both parties on deficit reduction and tax reform. And House Speaker John A. Boehner said a day later that Republicans were open to new revenue.
5:03 PM EDT, October 19, 2012
T. Rowe Price-managed college savings plans take home gold
Two college savings plans managed by T. Rowe Price rank among the best in the country — the eighth time that the Baltimore-based investment firm has been included in Morningstar's annual survey of top plans.
October 21, 2012
5 questions for
Bernard T. Ferrari's diverse career took another turn in July when he became the second dean in the history of the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School.
October 15, 2012
Richard Lewis Hill III
Richard Lewis Hill III, a longtime social and labor activist and volunteer at Baltimore Clayworks, died of pancreatic cancer at his Towson home on Oct. 7. He was 68.
6:05 PM EDT, October 26, 2012
Legg Mason rebounds, posts $80 million profit in quarter
Legg Mason Inc. bounced back from its first loss since 2009 with a profit of $80.8 million in the quarter that ended Sept. 30, the Baltimore-based investment company announced Friday.
5:05 PM EDT, October 24, 2012
T. Rowe Price reports third-quarter profit of $247.3 million
Buoyed by rising assets under management and market gains, T. Rowe Price Group reported Wednesday that it earned $247.3 million, or 94 cents per share, for the third quarter.
7:39 PM EDT, October 11, 2012
Vertis Holdings files for bankruptcy reorganization, agrees to sell firm
Baltimore-based Vertis Holdings Inc., at one time the largest U.S. producer of advertising inserts in newspapers, plans to sell itself to a Wisconsin printing company for $258.5 million through an auction in U.S. Bankruptcy Court.
8:38 PM EDT, November 1, 2012
Under Armour to open Harbor East retail store next year
Though Under Armour still plans to open a store at its Tide Point headquarters, the company felt it had gone too long without a retail space in the city it calls home.
8:06 PM EDT, October 18, 2012
Md. insurance regulators revoke licenses of Hal Katz, agency
Baltimore County auto insurance salesman Hal Katz is known for his offbeat television commercials, such as the one with the rapper singing, "Hey, Hal, you're the best!"
7:55 PM EDT, October 23, 2012
Patapsco Bank's parent reaches agreement with regulators
The Federal Reserve announced Tuesday that Patapsco Bancorp of Dundalk has agreed to take steps to maintain the soundness of the company and its Patapsco Bank subsidiary
5:57 PM EDT, October 31, 2012
Howard manse on private lot sells for $1.5 million
A 9,000-square-foot house on nearly five acres in the heart of Howard County sold in September for $1.5 million.
5:04 PM EDT, October 5, 2012
Maryland's three casinos pull in $42.9 million in September
Revenue at Maryland's three casinos reached nearly $42.9 million in September, down from $44.6 million the month before, according to figures released Friday by the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency.
October 14, 2012
Maryland investment firms haven't abandoned Democrats
Wall Street might have turned its back on Democrats this election, but that's not the case among Maryland investment firms.
7:50 AM EDT, September 11, 2012
Legg Mason CEO to step down
Legg Mason's chairman and chief executive officer Mark R. Fetting announced this morning that he will step down from those positions on Oct. 1. He will remain as a consultant to the Baltimore-based investment company until the end of the year. Fetting has led the company since 2008.
6:57 PM EDT, September 7, 2012
Fairmount Bancorp plans to buy back up to 25,000 shares
Fairmount Bancorp announced Friday that it plans to repurchase up to 25,000 shares of its common stock, or about 5 percent of the total outstanding shares. The parent of the Baltimore County-based Fairmount Bank said it will buy shares periodically over the next six months depending on market conditions. Joseph M. Solomon, president and CEO, said in a statement that the company's strong capital position allows it to conduct the buyback to enhance stockholder value.
6:44 PM EDT, October 24, 2012
Pa.-based F.N.B. Corp. to acquire Annapolis Bancorp
Annapolis Bancorp Inc., the parent company of BankAnnapolis, has agreed to be acquired by Pennsylvania-based F.N.B. Corp. in a deal valued at $51 million.
7:54 PM EDT, October 1, 2012
American Express ordered to refund $85M to consumers
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau announced Monday that it had ordered three subsidiaries of American Express to refund about $85 million to roughly a quarter-million consumers for violating consumer protection laws. In addition, several federal agencies fined the credit card giant $27.5 million.
12:02 AM EDT, September 15, 2012
The departure of Legg Mason's CEO raises questions about its future
The second CEO in Legg Mason's history announced last week he was stepping down, raising the question: What's next for the Baltimore-based money manager?
September 9, 2012
Lessons learned in personal finance
About a dozen years ago, the Internet bubble had burst and many workers were forced to postpone retirement because their 401(k)s were wiped out by the bear market. Today, we're living through the aftermath of another bubble collapse and workers again are wondering when, or even if, they'll be able to retire.
8:01 PM EDT, September 10, 2012
Old Line Bancshares to acquire WSB Holdings in $49M deal
Old Line Bancshares has reached an agreement to acquire WSB Holdings Inc., the parent of Washington Savings Bank, for about $49 million in cash and stock, the Bowie-based companies announced Monday.
October 14, 2012
Maryland's wealthy dig deep to donate to super PACS
There are big political contributors, and then there are BIG contributors. Count Baltimore trial lawyer and Orioles owner Peter Angelos among the latter.
11:09 PM EDT, September 14, 2012
Lawmakers aim crackdown on federally employed tax scofflaws
Some members of Congress want to fire federal workers who are seriously delinquent on their taxes.
October 2, 2012
Maryland audit finds potentially $344,000 in improper unemployment benefits
The deceased, prisoners and even some state workers improperly collected unemployment benefits potentially worth about $344,000, according to a recently released audit of Maryland's Division of Unemployment Insurance.
3:57 PM EDT, September 5, 2012
Columbia security software developer receives $50M in funding
Tenable Network Security Inc., an information security software developer based in Columbia, said Wednesday that it had received $50 million in funding from the venture capital firm Accel Partners.
6:33 PM EDT, September 12, 2012
Legg Mason executives receive restricted stock award
Legg Mason awarded more than 300,000 shares of restricted common stock spread among six executives as part of a retention program at the Baltimore-based money manager that is undergoing a shakeup at the top.
7:45 PM EDT, September 11, 2012
Legg Mason CEO to step down
Less than five years after taking the helm of Legg Mason, Chairman and CEO Mark R. Fetting announced Tuesday that he would step down Oct. 1, possibly setting the stage for the sale of parts of the Baltimore-based money management firm.
September 4, 2012
Yes, some employers do provide generous employee benefits
You might never have heard of U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention in Rockville, but after reading this you likely will want to work there.
July 24, 2012
Would-be entrepreneurs will have a new place to call home
Baltimoreans, got a great idea for a web or mobile product? Do you have the passion — and energy — to turn that idea into a reality?
7:42 PM EDT, August 20, 2012
Was Maryland's $10 million sales tax holiday worth it?
The early results of Maryland's sales tax holiday are in: Retailers liked it. So did their customers.
9:32 AM EDT, September 3, 2012
Federal workers propose waste-cutting ideas in White House contest
Federal workers are in the trenches daily, so they're likely to be the first to spot waste — and to come up with ways to save taxpayer dollars.
5:34 PM EDT, July 26, 2012
First Mariner reports another profitable quarter
For the second quarter in a row, First Mariner Bancorp reported a profit, thanks to low interest rates, which have triggered a burst of mortgage lending.
12:22 PM EDT, September 4, 2012
Credit cards offer pricey — and unnecessary — extra products
Open a credit card account and you might walk away with more than just plastic.
August 28, 2012
So many financial scandals raises the question of whether ethics classes work
Ethics professors at business schools aren't short of teachable moments these days.
4:54 PM EDT, August 17, 2012
Maryland's unemployment rate for July rises slightly to 7 percent
For yet another month, Maryland's unemployment rate inched upward, reaching 7 percent in July, the U.S. Department of Labor reported Friday.
5:52 PM EDT, July 9, 2012
Baltimore city is among many suing big banks over allegations of rate-rigging
You're likely part of the largest financial scandal in the world today if you have an adjustable-rate mortgage or a private student loan.
August 27, 2012
Couple helps other parents with cost of school supplies
Earlier this summer, Dan and Heather Simons started adding up the cost of school supplies for their son, who is entering first grade.
August 26, 2012
Senior advocates urge more help to stop financial exploitation
Baltimore police arrested five people last week accused of impersonating city tax collectors and going to the homes of elderly residents to rob them.
August 14, 2012
Consumers could be charged more for using credit cards
One of the largest business expenses for Santoni's Supermarket in Highlandtown is interchange fees — what the grocer pays a bank to process customer's credit card transactions.
7:48 PM EDT, August 6, 2012
Unlucky in love? Adopting savvy investors' methods could help
If you're stuck in a bad relationship, you might have something in common with the subprime mortgage mess.
6:28 PM EDT, July 16, 2012
Employers weed out job candidates with off-the-wall questions
You walk into a job interview prepared to be grilled about your skills and what you can bring to the position. Instead, the interviewer throws a curveball:
August 12, 2012
Stalemate in Congress makes tax planning nearly impossible
Here we are less than six months away from the "fiscal cliff" and Congress shows little sign of pulling the country back from the brink.
July 29, 2012
Report: Let private student loans be discharged in bankruptcy
Borrowers overwhelmed by private student loan debt often discover an ugly truth too late — these loans can't be discharged in bankruptcy like other types of consumer loans.
6:27 PM EDT, August 27, 2012
Southwest to drop service to Newark, N.J.
Southwest Airlines will discontinue service from Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport to Newark, N.J., beginning March 10.
July 15, 2012
Is your tax preparer changing your return to collect a refund?
The tax season ended in April for most of us, but for some consumers their tax headaches are only about to begin.
5:05 PM EDT, July 3, 2012
Regal Bancorp reaches agreement with Federal Reserve
Regal Bancorp Inc. of Owings Mills has reached an agreement with the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, the regulator announced Tuesday.
7:47 PM EDT, June 4, 2012
Investor distrust likely to rise after Facebook IPO debacle
Susan Fulton says about 100 clients of her Bethesda asset-management firm were "up for the risk" last month and invested a total of $1 million the day Facebook went public.
7:55 PM EDT, July 25, 2012
T. Rowe Price reports $206.8 million profit for second quarter
T. Rowe Price Group said earnings rose to $206.8 million for the second quarter on record revenue of $736.8 million, results that fell below analysts' expectations and sent the company's shares tumbling Wednesday.
July 8, 2012
A big part of a federal worker's job is just getting there
Many federal workers in and around Washington make their home in the Baltimore area, so when two of them get together at a party, they immediately begin swapping commuting strategies.
June 26, 2012
Md. firms, treasurer balk at proposed money market regulations
Battle lines are being drawn over whether money market funds need more protection in the event of another financial crisis. Maryland investment firms and the state treasurer are on one side of the fight; the SEC chairman is on the other.
3:05 PM EDT, June 29, 2012
Workers to learn how much they pay for their 401(k)
Workers are about to get valuable information about their 401(k) — specifically, how much they pay for it.
August 19, 2012
Is your financial aid being eaten up by debit-card fees?
Students across the country are headed back to college, and millions of them will get financial aid disbursed on a debit card.
7:50 PM EDT, July 2, 2012
Count on shady businesses cropping up in wake of storm
It happens after every natural catastrophe. Once the winds die down, the water recedes or the fire is doused, shady contractors appear on the scene to make affected homeowners victims twice over.
9:48 AM EDT, August 12, 2012
New law will let federal employees ease into retirement
It's been a worry for many years: What happens when older federal workers retire and take decades of institutional knowledge with them?
6:33 PM EDT, August 6, 2012
New law will let federal employees ease into retirement
It's been a worry for many years: What happens when older federal workers retire and take decades of institutional knowledge with them?
July 8, 2012
Study: Consumers taking out reverse mortgages earlier
Much of the wealth of millions of baby boomers is tied up in their houses — a sure sign we're going to see a growing demand for reverse mortgages.
11:41 AM EDT, June 26, 2012
Bankruptcy petition preparers said to overstep bounds
When it comes to filing for bankruptcy, Marylanders are more likely to be do-it-yourselfers than debtors in other states.
7:23 PM EDT, May 14, 2012
New Md. law aims to halt financial abuse of the elderly
Maryland banks and credit unions are likely to be among the first to notice that an elderly customer is being financially exploited by a con artist or an unscrupulous relative.
June 17, 2012
Financial aid award letters often lack transparency and wind up confusing students and parents
When you buy a house, you know the price and your monthly payment. The same with a car.
7:24 PM EDT, July 27, 2012
Legg Mason posts first quarterly loss since 2009
Legg Mason Inc. reported Friday that it lost $9.5 million in the first quarter, citing the costs of restructuring debt and launching two funds.
July 22, 2012
Can consumers outraged by outages be compensated for woes?
Cathy Pelekakis, who was without power for six days after the June derecho, quickly made a few calls to complain: to her state representative, the Baltimore County executive and the Maryland Public Service Commission.
May 27, 2012
Travelers determined to have a vacation — within a budget
Money may be tight, but not enough for most of us to forgo a summer vacation.
June 25, 2012
William Waters Kirk IV, school headmaster
William Waters Kirk IV, a Baltimore native and former headmaster of the Calvert School, died June 18 of Parkinson's disease. He was 91.
May 6, 2012
The Interview John Hauserman, Certified Financial Planner board ambassador
Financial advisers often have an alphabet of professional designations behind their names, but the dominant one remains "CFP," or certified financial planner.
8:52 PM EDT, June 24, 2012
Pikesville woman in critical condition after Westminster crash
The driver of a vehicle involved in a two-car accident in Westminster Saturday was listed in critical condition Sunday night at the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center.
June 10, 2012
About 21,000 high earners paid no federal income tax
A new report from the IRS shows that nearly 21,000 American households with incomes of $200,000 and up didn't owe federal income taxes.
8:13 PM EDT, April 30, 2012
Regulators pressure life insurers to help beneficiaries collect their due
Regulators nationwide are pushing life insurers to do a better job of tracking when policyholders die and locating the beneficiaries — an effort that could reap billions of dollars for consumers.
6:32 PM EDT, June 11, 2012
Sparrows Point steelworkers await their fate — again
Rodney Donald represents the third generation of his family to work at the Sparrows Point steel mill, and he's hoping this one won't be the last.
May 13, 2012
Prepaid card market heats up — and the fees are plentiful
Prepaid debit cards are everywhere these days — and so are their fees.
8:19 PM EDT, June 18, 2012
New Web tool grades banks on their small-business help
Small businesses needing loans should think small — bankwise, that is.
May 29, 2012
New Baltimore Community ToolBank lends tools to volunteers working on charitable projects
The first sign that this isn't an ordinary warehouse in southwest Baltimore is the bright blue murals of screwdrivers, wrenches and other tools painted on the exterior.
6:24 PM EDT, May 21, 2012
Md. to launch program to stimulate lending to small businesses
Maryland small businesses gripe that they can't get loans from banks. Lenders complain of a dearth of borrowers.
May 20, 2012
Identity thieves filing fake returns using data on real taxpayers
Here's another reason to file your tax returns as early as possible: an identity thief might beat you to the money.
April 29, 2012
Consumer agency to review mandatory arbitration in financial services
Finally, a spotlight will be shone on a widespread business practice that forces unhappy customers to settle disputes through binding arbitration — rather than by telling their story in court.
7:14 PM EDT, April 23, 2012
Consumers stand to make a few gains from legislative session
Let's turn to baseball to sum up the Maryland legislative session's impact on consumers: It had a few singles but no home runs.
7:25 AM EDT, April 17, 2012
Owe taxes but your bank account is empty?
So the tax deadline is here and you don't have the money to pay the bill.
9:56 PM EDT, April 23, 2012
Caustic acids stored inside warehouse, site of three-alarm Canton blaze
With a Canton warehouse fire reduced to a smolder by Monday morning, attention shifted to ensuring that surrounding homes and the harbor's waters are protected from caustic chemicals inside the facility.
May 6, 2012
Banks and credit unions to offer cash prizes under new law
The thrill of potentially winning big bucks gets people to spend millions of dollars regularly on lottery tickets. Can this same concept excite Marylanders to become better savers?
April 1, 2012
Many oppose health care act, and many don't know its benefits
The fate of the Affordable Care Act is in the hands of the Supreme Court justices. But in the court of public opinion, a large percentage of people polled recently want the law scrapped.
April 8, 2012
Another day, another security breach.
Even among the hundreds of data breaches that occur each year, the hacking of card processor Global Payments stands out.
June 3, 2012
Taxpayers face long waits, conflicting information when trying to recover from identity theft
Tom Morgan tried to file his federal tax return electronically this year, but he kept getting an error message that advised him to double-check his Social Security number.
February 28, 2012
Fake debt collectors a 'major problem,' regulator says
It's bad enough being hounded by collection agencies for debt that's yours. Imagine getting calls from fake debt collectors in India who threaten to have you arrested for not repaying payday loans you don't owe.
3:55 PM EST, February 20, 2012
Consumers unhappy to find some rebates are taxable
Last year, Jane Kuhl and her husband qualified for a state-run program that promised a 50 percent rebate to homeowners installing energy-saving insulation.
7:54 PM EDT, April 22, 2012
Mother Nature rains down on Earth Day
Mother Nature brought relief to a parched Baltimore on Sunday, but the persistent rain didn't dampen the spirits at the Earth Day festivities in Hampden.
February 12, 2012
Consumers are starting to flex their newfound muscle
Stef Gray recently delivered a petition to Sallie Mae's Washington office, asking the giant private lender to eliminate a fee that unemployed college graduates must pay to suspend payments until they find a job.
7:54 PM EDT, May 7, 2012
Home renovations are a lot of work — and require due diligence
About a year ago, Matt Venditto hired a builder to construct a house in Westminster. It wasn't long before buyer's remorse set in.
1:16 AM EDT, April 23, 2012
Residents evacuated after 3-alarm fire ignites Canton warehouse
The Baltimore City Fire Department battled a three-alarm fire at a warehouse at 1200 Baylis St. in the Canton area late into the night Sunday, bringing it under control around midnight.
9:16 AM EDT, April 3, 2012
Young investors show less interest in IRAs
Give anyone age 40 and older a time machine and they would likely go back to their early 20s — to open an IRA.
10:05 AM EDT, April 10, 2012
Md. bans yo-yo financing of car purchases, but it still happens
Yo-yo financing is what happens when you drive off the lot with your newly purchased car, only to be reeled back in days or weeks later by the dealer because the financing didn't go through.
4:51 PM EDT, April 2, 2012
Young investors show less interest in IRAs
Give anyone age 40 and older a time machine and they would likely go back to their early 20s — to open an IRA.
6:15 PM EDT, March 26, 2012
Maryland proposes ban on 'forced bundling' by insurers
Many consumers voluntarily buy more than one type of insurance from the same company so they can get a discount on premiums.
8:01 AM EST, January 31, 2012
Many Marylanders living without a financial safety net
Marylanders on average have the highest income in the country, but when it comes to having a financial cushion in hard times, we're disappointingly mediocre.
8:03 PM EST, January 23, 2012
Can Suze Orman's new prepaid card change credit scoring?
Personal finance guru Suze Orman says she never would have introduced her prepaid debit card if there wasn't a possibility that some day it could be used in credit scoring.
6:41 PM EDT, April 26, 2012
MICROS Systems reports profit, acquisition
Columbia-based MICROS Systems Inc., a provider of technology solutions for the hospitality industry, announced on Thursday that it had a $43.2 million profit in the third quarter and planned to buy a company in England.
7:45 PM EDT, April 14, 2012
New law allows entrepreneurs to sell securities via crowdfunding
Could crowdfunding work for entrepreneurs who need capital for their private startup and are willing to sell a stake in it to the masses? Congress seems to think so.
8:16 AM EDT, March 13, 2012
Fewer workers saving for retirement, more under financial stress
Workers' confidence about their retirement is at a near-record low. Fewer are salting away money for their later years, and the majority have less than $25,000 in savings and investments.
8:37 PM EST, January 29, 2012
Addressing negative stereotypes of black men, yearlong program reaches end
Using music, poetry, dance and art, the Black Male Identity Project has been striving for the past year to overturn negative stereotypes of African-American men.
9:55 AM EST, March 5, 2012
Financial planning for same-sex couples who seek to wed
Same-sex marriage, signed into law Thursday in Maryland, will bring significant changes to gay and lesbian couples here. But to their personal finances, maybe not so much.
February 5, 2012
Moves to lower your tax bill
Death and taxes might be certain, but the latter changes each year.
12:00 AM EDT, March 24, 2012
Apple sparks renewed interest in dividend-paying stocks
Apple made headlines again last week, but this time they weren't entirely about the new iPad.
March 18, 2012
Md. legislation targets employer bias against unemployed
Many long-term unemployed have discovered an ugly truth: You need a job to get one.
9:33 PM EST, February 5, 2012
Giants, Patriots fans anxiously watch rematch
Weeks before the start of the NFL season, a small group of New York Giants fans approached the new owner of the Canton bar the Americana: Could they make it their hangout?
5:49 PM EST, February 6, 2012
Retirees face the risk of outliving their money
Until recently, retirement planning focused mostly on helping workers accumulate savings.
4:11 PM EDT, March 19, 2012
Want a scholarship? Watch what you post online
Students beware: Scholarship providers aren't just going by your application to learn about you.
February 26, 2012
Maryland raises the bar for individual tax preparers
For years, anyone in Maryland could prepare tax returns for money, so it wasn't unheard of to find tax services offered at laundromats, car dealerships or palm-reader shops.
January 22, 2012
Many workers are in the dark about 401(k) fees
Survey after survey shows that many workers don't know how much they shell out in 401(k) fees — or that they even pay them.
March 11, 2012
Eight things you might not know about Social Security
Most of us know some basics about Social Security.
February 14, 2012
Marrying your financial opposite: A fatal attraction?
Somewhere, a husband and wife are arguing about money — even on Valentine's Day. And researchers say that if the two were being totally honest, they would say:
February 19, 2012
Stopping thieves before they steal your child's identity
As concern grows over child identity theft, Maryland is considering legislation that would make the state the first in the nation to protect a youngster's credit report.
January 29, 2012
Debt buyers must provide more documents when suing Marylanders
Debt buyers have sued thousands of Marylanders over the years without showing much proof that the companies owned the debt — or that the consumers owed it.
7:29 PM EST, March 5, 2012
When you can't get a checking account, where do you go?
Roberto Pagan-Franco didn't have a bank account for decades. His employer paid him in cash or with a check that the Baltimore resident took to a check-cashing store. A few years ago he lost his job after a severe illness and for a time was homeless.
3:55 PM EST, January 13, 2012
Will giving children an allowance make them smarter about finances?
The conventional wisdom is that allowances make children responsible money managers as they learn to budget so they don't run out of cash.
9:31 PM EST, January 7, 2012
No quick fix: Getting out of debt requires patience — and help
After his mother's death six years ago, Doug Hamilton says, his financial life spiraled out of control. He spent freely, didn't pay his bills on time and had creditors calling him at work.
7:37 AM EST, January 17, 2012
Early birds can begin filing tax returns electronically with Uncle Sam and Maryland
Tax season is officially here, with the Internal Revenue Service and state of Maryland starting Tuesday to accept electronically filed returns.
December 28, 2011
More than 700 Sparrows Point steel workers laid off until early March
The owner of the Sparrows Point steel mill has told state unemployment insurance officials that about 720 workers at the Baltimore County plant are being furloughed and are expected back on the job March 4.
7:59 PM EST, December 24, 2011
By improving their own finances, parents give gift to children
Many parents braved the malls to find their children this year's must-have toy or the hottest gadget.
December 31, 2011
What investors can expect in 2012
If you had slept Rip Van Winkle-style through 2011, you'd be awakening now to find that your stock portfolio was much the same as you left it.
7:03 PM EST, December 7, 2011
Janis Berzins Jr.
Janis Berzins Jr., a Latvian native who became a Johns Hopkins University lacrosse star in the early 1960s, died Nov. 28 of an aortic dissection. The resident of Phoenix in Baltimore County was 71.
6:37 PM EST, January 9, 2012
Wish list for new director of Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
To: Richard Cordray, Director
4:46 PM EST, December 19, 2011
Investors should sell their losers now to reap a tax break
Jim Loukota of Baltimore County is trying to make the best of a soured investment.
10:56 PM EST, December 4, 2011
Baltimore police investigate report of armed individual in Hampden
Baltimore police Sunday night are investigating a report of an armed person in the 1400 block of Union Avenue in Hampden. Police spokesman Det. Jeremy Silbert said police received a call around 6 p.m. of an armed individual and investigators went to the scene. Few other details are available. As of 10:15 p.m., the investigation was still ongoing.
7:14 PM EST, December 12, 2011
Is a new credit card regulation hurting stay-at-home spouses?
An aim of the landmark credit card reform act of 2009 was to protect consumers from getting too deep into debt.
3:45 PM EST, December 26, 2011
New IRS reporting requirements kick in for fund firms in 2012
If you own mutual funds outside a retirement account, you likely have heard from the investment companies asking you to choose your math.
6:50 PM EST, November 28, 2011
You pay bills on time, so why isn't your credit score higher?
Marlene Partridge and her husband have a six-figure retirement income, no debt and pay off their credit cards each month.
10:55 AM EST, December 5, 2011
Pedestrian injured in Anne Arundel County
A 52-year-old pedestrian was struck Sunday evening at the intersection of Telegraph Road and Grand View Avenue in Anne Arundel County, according to a statement from the county's police department. The county fire department was called to the scene at 7:19 p.m and transported the woman to the Maryland Shock Trauma Center, according to Lt. Keith Hamilton.
6:13 PM EST, November 25, 2011
Federal regulators issue consent order to Owings Mills bank
Federal regulators have ordered Regal Bank & Trust in Owings Mills to make certain changes, such as drawing up written plans for maintaining capital levels and reducing "substandard" assets, according to a document released Friday by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.
7:38 PM EST, November 7, 2011
Students need all the debt relief they can get
Tens of thousands of Marylanders could benefit from two initiatives by the Obama administration that are designed to ease the burden of federal student loans.
6:22 PM EST, November 14, 2011
Should you buy a computer on Monday or Friday?
Timing is everything if you're trying to get the best deal on a computer, airfares, cars and even stocks.
November 27, 2011
The earlier we learn financial lessons, the better
John David Kromkowski learned about compound interest as a youngster with the help of a passbook savings account at the bank.
1:31 PM EST, January 2, 2012
If you resolve to pay off credit cards this year, do it right
Many consumers will resolve to pay off their credit cards for the new year, and their intentions are in the right place. But according to a recent study, how they go about it is likely to be wrong.
December 11, 2011
Got a gift card you don't use or want? Sell it
We want gift cards and like to give them, but for some reason we don't always use them and wind up wasting billions of dollars.
4:30 PM EST, November 21, 2011
Tips to help holiday shoppers avoid overspending
If consumers actually do what they say they'll do, this will be another slow holiday season for retailers.
November 30, 2011
Experts: Firms must engage workers now to keep them later
The past few years have been a struggle for employers trying to keep their businesses running and their employees satisfied despite ever-tighter budgets.
9:42 AM EDT, November 1, 2011
Debit card fees are last straw for some consumers
Apparently, consumers have a breaking point — a $5 monthly debit-card fee.
8:00 PM EST, December 5, 2011
Fraudulent schemes? There are enough out there to fill a book
Joyce Brown of Brooklyn Park receives lots of blatantly bogus letters claiming she won millions or billions of dollars in a lottery, but the one that arrived about a week ago was different.
December 4, 2011
Some students are leaving college with huge private loans
Megan Connors of Harford County says she got a great education at Auburn University but a brutal lesson on private student loans.
November 20, 2011
Make moves now to lower next year's tax bill
Year-end tax planning these next several weeks will be refreshingly straightforward for a change.
4:57 PM EDT, November 1, 2011
U.S. savings bonds rate fall
The Bureau of Public Debt on Tuesday released the new rates for savings bonds purchased between November and the end of April.
December 18, 2011
How does your savings rate measure up for your age?
How much in savings and investments should you have by age 35 or 45? Or, for that matter, at 65 when you're likely to be near retirement?
September 18, 2011
More parents are laying out the welcome mat for kids, Census Bureau reports
A couple of years ago, Joe and Marlene Everett were 50-something empty nesters with a daughter out on her own and a son away at college.
November 13, 2011
As credit card reward programs grow more generous, it's worth checking what's in your wallet
Don't automatically shred those credit card offers arriving in your mailbox. They just might contain an attractive rewards program.
October 29, 2011
Even savvy consumers can find it tough to negotiate car sales
Most of us don't buy cars all that often. So when we do, we can come away with that nagging feeling of not knowing whether we got a fair deal or grossly overpaid.
12:03 PM EDT, October 7, 2011
Taking the holiday blues and hassles out of air travel
Airfares can fluctuate even within the span of a few hours, but the direction of holiday travel prices is one-way: up.
7:11 PM EDT, August 29, 2011
Earthquake. Hurricane. What disaster is next?
If this past week was not a wake-up call to make sure you are financially prepared to survive a natural disaster, what is?
5:42 PM EDT, September 26, 2011
Debt collectors, other businesses want to call your cellphone
That unfamiliar incoming call to your cellphone soon might be from a debt collector.
6:19 PM EDT, August 22, 2011
Consumer advocates fear that more traditional banks will be offering payday loans
If you are offered a short-term advance on your paycheck at a triple-digit interest rate, you might think you're being pitched a payday loan — a product that's basically banned in Maryland and other states with rate caps.
8:27 PM EDT, August 8, 2011
Investors' flight to Treasuries seen to have a short-term benefit to consumers
Investors watched stock markets swoon and economists fretted about the nation's fragile recovery on the first day of trading after the unprecedented downgrade of the nation's credit rating.
August 28, 2011
Tough economic times make less expensive colleges more attractive to families
Sam Cameron says high school classmates used to give her "funny looks" when she told them she planned to go to a local community college after graduation instead of some prestigious four-year institution.
September 4, 2011
Little-known health education and advocacy unit helps Marylanders resolve medical bill and insurance disputes
The surgery on Don Hayden's son was successful. The only lingering complication: a bill for $23,000.
October 2, 2011
Employers face higher health care costs for next year
Health care costs rose faster than inflation and wages this year — a trend that will hit home for many workers in the next several weeks as employers offer open enrollment.
7:00 PM EDT, August 1, 2011
Credit unions developed battle plans to protect federal workers during debt ceiling fight
While congressional leaders work to push through a deal to raise the government's debt ceiling, some credit unions that serve federal employees aren't taking any chances.
August 14, 2011
Help wanted: But only the employed need apply
While nearly 14 million unemployed Americans are searching for work, some employers are limiting their hiring to preferred candidates: People who already have jobs.
7:15 PM EDT, August 15, 2011
Interest rates on consumer loans have fallen recently
The silver lining in all this economic upheaval lately: low interest rates on consumer borrowing.
September 13, 2011
To end a banking relationship, don't just walk away
Breaking up with a bank can be hard to do — and expensive if you don't do it right.
9:52 AM EDT, July 26, 2011
Treasury moves away from paper to electronic savings bonds
The move by the federal government to end the sale of paper savings bonds at banks and credit unions next year is bad news for savers in more ways than one.
9:15 PM EDT, September 5, 2011
Troubled homeowners still have time to get mortgage assistance
Help still is available for Marylanders at risk of losing their homes because they lost a job, their pay was cut or earnings reduced because of an illness.
5:41 PM EDT, July 26, 2011
T. Rowe Price earnings rise 29% in 2nd quarter
T. Rowe Price Group, the Baltimore-based mutual fund and investment advisory company, reported Tuesday a profit of $204.7 million for the second quarter, a 29 percent increase over the corresponding period a year ago.
6:42 PM EDT, September 19, 2011
Student borrowers have another option before defaulting on loans
The number of borrowers defaulting on federal student loans continues to rise in Maryland and elsewhere. But even during the long and painful economic recovery, many of these defaults likely are unnecessary.
7:09 PM EDT, September 23, 2011
Know your rights in disputes with landlords
For Eddie Germino, being unemployed for a time last year worked to his advantage in a dispute with his Maryland landlord.
November 6, 2011
As America ages, issue of long-term care emerges
When the Obama administration recently backed off a long-term insurance program that was part of the law to overhaul health care, we all lost.
9:11 PM EDT, October 24, 2011
Taking the mystery out of the bottom-line cost of college
By the time you know how much it will cost out of pocket to attend a college, you are far along in the process. Not only have you been accepted by the school, but you've likely waited weeks to receive the financial aid package.
August 24, 2011
Earthquake coverage as rare as earthquakes in Maryland
Marylanders whose houses sustained damage from Tuesday's earthquake are about to get more bad news: Their homeowners' policies likely won't cover repairs.
September 11, 2011
Consumers aren't alone when they've been wronged
Last week's column on a little-known state group that helps consumers with medical disputes generated emails from readers asking if organizations exist that can help them tackle other problems.
4:32 PM EDT, August 6, 2011
Debt-ceiling debate, market downslide test investors' appetite for risk
Think about how you have been feeling about your portfolio lately.
June 26, 2011
Investors may soon be able to buy into their favorite Internet companies
Investment guru Peter Lynch once advised ordinary folks to "invest in what you know."
6:50 PM EDT, August 18, 2011
Rockville bank to assume deposits of shuttered Pa. bank
Capital Bank, National Association of Rockville has agreed to assume the deposits and buy nearly all the assets of a Pennsylvania bank that was closed by regulators Thursday, according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.
8:54 PM EDT, August 9, 2011
Consumer and business confidence seen as key to weathering economic storm
Bettie Dunkin was surprisingly unfazed by the financial turmoil of the last few days.
7:54 PM EDT, June 20, 2011
How to find a real, live person for real customer service
This recorded message must be one of the biggest fibs a business makes to customers: "Your call is very important to us."
January 30, 2011
Changes you may encounter while preparing this season's tax return
For taxpayers who are procrastinators, this is your year.
July 10, 2011
Today's treasure hunter doesn't need a secret map or shovel to uncover wealth
Years ago, before we were married and moved to Maryland, my husband opened a checking account in Indiana and had the statements mailed to his office there.
June 19, 2011
How to rebuild finances after losing a job and finding another
Ever so slowly, the unemployed are getting hired. And if you're one of them, the next task will be to get your finances back on track.
6:24 PM EDT, July 18, 2011
A year in the making, consumers finally get greater protections on financial matters
Consumer advocates aren't getting their first choice to lead the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Despite the setback, this is still a big week for consumer protection.
July 24, 2011
Millions of dollars earmarked for investor education across the country
Back in 2003, major Wall Street firms agreed to pay more than $1 billion to settle claims that their research analysts hyped stocks to curry favor with — and get business from — the companies they covered.
8:30 PM EDT, April 1, 2011
Hale: First Mariner working with regulators despite doubts over future
First Mariner Bancorp Chairman and CEO Edwin F. Hale Sr. said Friday that the company is continuing to try to raise capital and to work with regulators who have put the largest Baltimore-based bank under heightened scrutiny for two years.
8:34 PM EDT, August 26, 2011
Nasdaq issues another warning to First Mariner
First Mariner Bancorp says it has been notified by Nasdaq Stock Market that it still fails to meet the standards to remain listed on the exchange, according to documents filed with securities regulators on Friday.
6:09 PM EST, January 31, 2011
Why pay more to file your taxes?
If you are a low- to moderate-income taxpayer and you shell out any money to have your taxes done, you're likely paying too much.
6:55 PM EDT, July 15, 2011
Small investors worry about debt-ceiling impasse
While politicians in Washington refuse to compromise on raising the debt ceiling, small investors are worrying about what a stalemate might mean to their life savings.
11:34 AM EDT, August 1, 2011
Car buyers should know their rights when getting financing through an auto dealer
Imagine showing off your new car to friends and family only to get a call from the dealer — sometimes weeks later — saying your financing has fallen through.
November 2, 2011
Bank of America drops plans for debit card fee
Facing a consumer backlash and an online revolt, Bank of America said Tuesday that it won't adopt a $5 monthly debit card fee next year after all.
August 21, 2011
Budgeting is a drag, but online personal financial management sites make the chore easier
Online budgeting sites aim to take the tedium out of money management, and the latest entry even tries to make a game of it with cash prizes.
6:09 PM EDT, August 16, 2011
Financial adviser accused of defrauding vulnerable clients
A federal grand jury indicted a Baltimore financial adviser Tuesday for mail fraud in an alleged scheme to defraud vulnerable clients including an 85-year-old with dementia of more than $838,500, according to the U.S. attorney for the District of Maryland.
1:45 PM EST, January 21, 2011
Some taxpayers will be getting their refunds on a prepaid card
Hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons is hawking a prepaid card. Reality TV star Kim Kardashian briefly offered a prepaid card before it was pulled off the market. Then earlier this month, the Treasury Department announced that it would allow some taxpayers to get their refunds on prepaid cards this year.
March 1, 2011
IRS promises to ease up on struggling American taxpayers
The Internal Revenue Service says it will file fewer liens against those who owe back taxes and make it easier for taxpayers to get liens withdrawn — a move that wipes the blemish from credit reports.
July 3, 2011
Consumer advocate feared by financial institutions appears in Baltimore
On Capitol Hill, some lawmakers treat Elizabeth Warren as if she were Public Enemy No. 1.
8:00 PM EDT, June 27, 2011
Regulators focusing on bank overdraft programs
Some banks soon will find it more difficult to slap consumers with overdraft fees — a boon to customers who discover that one misstep can lead to a cascade of penalties.
6:41 PM EDT, July 20, 2011
FTC to mail $108M in refunds to Countrywide customers
The Federal Trade Commission announced Wednesday that it would begin mailing 450,177 refund checks worth up to several thousand dollars each to former customers of Countrywide Home Loans Inc.
February 9, 2010
How protected are you from snow damage?
With 2 feet of snow this past weekend and more flakes forecasted, many homes in the Baltimore area are likely to end up with some weather-related damage.
July 5, 2011
Federal Reserve sets limits on debit card swipe fees, leaving merchants and banks unhappy
You might not have paid attention to the fierce yearlong battle between merchants and banks over debit cards, but you'll likely notice last week's outcome in your wallet.
9:52 AM EDT, July 12, 2011
Retailers, manufacturers crack down on extreme couponing
It was just a matter of time before businesses began to push back against some of the worst behaviors of extreme couponers.
March 14, 2010
Build a better 401(k)
The fastest-growing segment of the population these days: centenarians.
9:33 PM EDT, March 31, 2011
Auditors raise doubts about First Mariner's future
Auditors have raised doubts about First Mariner Bancorp's ability to remain in business, according to financial statements that the largest Baltimore-based bank, founded by prominent businessman Edwin F. Hale Sr., filed with regulators late Thursday.
5:50 PM EDT, June 13, 2011
IRS revokes tax-exempt status of thousands of Maryland groups
Soccer clubs, PTAs, community associations, a temperance union and inactive foundations belonging to a couple of Baltimore sport legends are among the thousands of Maryland groups that have had their tax-exempt status revoked by the Internal Revenue Service.
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