The Lede

American Banker, Aug. 14, 2018--Bonnie Sinnock (subscription)The companies decided to withdraw their merger application after struggling to secure regulatory approval. The timeline has "remained unclear," Atlantic Bay said in a press release.

Wall Street Journal, Aug. 14, 2018--Josh Zumbrun (subscription)Gradually rising interest rates have yet to dent Americans' appetite for borrowing, with the total stock of new debt climbing to $13.3 trillion in the second quarter, continuing a gradual rise in household borrowing over the past four years, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York said.

National Mortgage Professional, Aug. 14, 2018--Phil HallA new survey released by Charles Schwab is questioning whether Millennials are cognizant of the financial challenges that face them today and the preparation they will need to weather tomorrow's monetary storms.

Mortgage Daily, Aug. 14, 2018A $4.9 billion penalty included in a settlement between the Department of Justice and The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc is reportedly largest of its kind ever for the department.

Mortgage Daily, Aug. 14, 2018In Regions Financial Corp.'s mortgage business, earnings were lower and the servicing portfolio diminished. New originations and delinquency improved, however.

Mortgage Professional America, Aug. 14, 2018--Francis MonfortAppetite for mortgage risk increased during the second quarter as both mortgage origination volumes and the mortgage default risk index increased year over year, according to VantageScore Solutions.

National Mortgage News, Aug. 14, 2018--Hannah Long (subscription)With Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Mel Watt's term due to end in January, his successor - either a Senate-confirmed appointee or an interim chief - has substantial authority to set part of the path forward on GSE reform, including how far Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac expand their mission and the status of a common securitization platform shared by the two mortgage giants.

HousingWire, Aug. 14, 2018--Kelsey RamirezThis is nothing new, as first-time homebuyers have dominated the mortgage market for the past 10 years, but the latest data shows that gap actually continues to grow, according to the Urban Institute.