For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – October 8, 2009 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: Bank of America Corporation (BAC), JPMorgan Chase & Company (JPM), Discover Financial Services (DFS), Citigroup (C) and Capital One Financial Corp. (COF).

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Here are highlights from Wednesday’s Analyst Blog:

BofA Vows Not to Hike Card Rate

Bank of America Corporation (BAC) said on Tuesday that it will not raise rates or change terms on consumer credit card accounts before the new law (CARD Act) intended to reform industry practices takes

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Bank of America Corporation (BAC) said on Tuesday that it will not raise rates or change terms on consumer credit card accounts before the new law (CARD Act) intended to reform industry practices takes effect early next year. To manage costs in light of the sweeping new reforms to the credit card industry, in August 2009, BofA along with JPMorgan Chase & Company (JPM) switched most fixed-rate cards to variable rates. Discover Financial Services (DFS) moved some of its cardholders from fixed to variable rates in June. Since most of the cards of Bank of America carry a variable rate, customers could still see rising interest rates as the interest is tied to the rise and fall of the prime rate. BofA also said that it will continue to re-price customers who are late on two or more payments in a one-year period....

On Wednesday, Wells Fargo (WFC) became the latest large financial institution to announce a reshuffle in its policy towards overdraft fees. The bank will eliminate overdraft fees for Wells and Wachovia customers when they overdraw their accounts by $5 or less. Wells will not charge customers more than four overdraft fees per day. In addition, customers will be able to opt out of overdraft coverage. Henceforth, customers can specify that they don't want their transactions authorized into overdraft if funds aren't available to cover the transaction. Wells Fargo is following the footsteps of other large banks, Bank of America Corporation (BAC) and JP Morgan Chase & Co. (JPM). While JP Morgan has decided to automatically remove all its customers from the overdraft service, and allow customers who want that protection to opt in; BofA and Wells Fargo will leave it to customers to opt ...

Representative Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), the head of the congressional Joint Economic Committee, is on record as believing that commercial real estate (CRE) is a ticking time bomb, as funding for commercial loans were virtually shut down last year when the financial system became paralyzed, with financing of even health properties remaining extremely difficult to obtain. Commercial loan delinquency rates have doubled to approximately 7.0% year over year. Add to the mix that owners of shopping malls, hotels and offices have been defaulting on loans at a significant rate, its is understandable why General Growth Properties (GGWPQ), the second largest owner of shopping malls, sought Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Clearly, as more companies downsize and retailers close their doors, small and regional banks may experience substantial risk of severe losses from commercial real estate loans. The pressures are not expected to improve until economic improvements are experienced ...