But no factor was more important than the financial, legal, regulatory and trust environment that fostered relationships between ICBs and small businesses.

FORBES: The Small Bank-Small Business Cascade

Although the announcement Ken Feinberg, the federal pay czar, has made with respect to limiting bonuses will undoubtedly be politically popular, what steps, if any, is the government considering to keep the top talent from leaving the U.S. financial community and moving to a more friendly regulatory environment -- considering a brain drain, in essence?

WHITEHOUSE: Press Briefing

"Competition among the regulators helps to create the best regulatory environment, " says Scott Talbott, a lobbyist with the Financial Services Roundtable, which represents industry heavyweights like JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo and Citigroup.

FORBES: Magazine Article

To effectively service an increasingly demanding and tech-savvy consumer base, financial institutions must be able to operate within a cloud environment - but on the surface that may seem incompatible with the regulatory strictures in which financial institutions operate.

FORBES: The Financial Services Sector Looks To The Cloud