1. Coding Meets Wall Street: Should Banks Be Hiring Hackers?

In today’s world, many banks function more like tech companies that just happen to move money. Enter HackerRank—a web platform that evaluates coding skills and ranks programmers. Large financial institutions, including JPMorgan Chase, have started using this tool to identify top tech talent. One example: a Java developer ranked globally on HackerRank was hired into JPMorgan’s tech program.

But the name “HackerRank” raises eyebrows. According to a basic internet search, the word “hacker” still carries two rather sketchy definitions:

1. Someone who gains unauthorized access to data.

2. Someone (or something) that hacks or cuts roughly.

Neither sounds like someone you’d want handling sensitive financial systems. “Computer Coder Rank” might be less catchy, but it doesn’t evoke illegal activity. Add to that a report of a top-ranking user who allegedly gained status by copying and pasting answers from discussion boards, and it’s fair to ask: Are we rewarding the wrong kind of digital resourcefulness?

Hiring great programmers is important, but maybe banks should think twice about the platforms they trust to assess ethical behavior.

2. When There’s an App for That… Maybe It’s a Trap?

We live in a world where even white-collar criminals have tools at their fingertips. One standout? The Murphy & McGonigle Surprise Law Enforcement Response app. Yes, there’s an app designed to help hedge funds respond to unannounced visits from the FBI.

It’s a bit surreal. Imagine your phone buzzing, and instead of a weather alert, it’s: “Your securities fraud inspection has arrived.” And while we wouldn’t find “How to Do a Murder” in the App Store (hopefully), tools designed to prepare for federal investigations toe a strange ethical line.

It makes you wonder: is the next move for law enforcement to build decoy apps? “Download this insider trading prep kit!”—and then just track who installs it. Honestly, it feels like a plot twist too easy to be real… but not completely implausible.

3. Wells Fargo, Racketeering, and the Public’s Changing Sympathy

Let’s talk about another Wells Fargo scandal—don’t worry, it’s a different one. This time, they settled a $50 million racketeering lawsuit for overcharging borrowers during the foreclosure process. Yes, racketeering. Because apparently, when you mail invoices with hidden fees, that can escalate quickly into mail and wire fraud charges.

And here’s the shift: public sentiment has changed since 2008. Back then, people were quick to blame the borrower. Now? The tide has turned. Overcharging struggling homeowners feels more sinister—especially from banks that never really seemed to face consequences for the last round of bad behavior.

You could even argue the infamous fake account scandal served as a kind of distraction. Compared to racketeering charges involving foreclosure fraud, that mess almost seems… less severe. Almost. But that’s the challenge for banks today—decades of broken trust mean every misstep is now magnified.

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