NEW YORK, NY (CNN) - CNN Money's Maribel Aber has your top business and financial news on this Thursday, April 24.
Three more banks have joined the growing litigation surrounding the alleged serial loan fraud by former Arvest Bank executive Dennis Smiley. Loans from Integrity First Bank of Mountain Home, First State Bank of Russellville and First Security Bank of Searcy were secured by common collateral: Smiley's financial interest in an Arvest stock account. The Integrity and First State loans were made to Smiley, his wife, Cynthia, and their Design For The Home LLC. First Security didn't specify any monetary claims or file any supporting paperwork related to its loans to Smiley.
About 800,000 rechargeable batteries used in the Summer Infant video monitors are being recalled because of burn hazards, according to the U.S. government. The battery in the handheld baby video monitor can overheat and rupture, posing a burn hazard to consumers, the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission said Wednesday. The federal agency said the recall applies to more than a dozen video models made by Summer Infant, including the Baby Touch, Safe Light, and Slim & Secure monitors. The batteries are about 1 1/2 inches tall by 2 1/4 inches wide and are marked "TCL" on the lower right corner.
Non-HBO subscribers will soon be able to watch some of the network's old TV shows, like "The Sopranos" and "The Wire," on Amazon Prime's streaming video service. Amazon (AMZN, Fortune 500) described the deal as a first for HBO, which has a reputation for being tightfisted with its library of hit shows -- even ones that stopped airing years ago. The assortment of HBO shows will be a significant addition to Amazon Prime as it attempts to sign up more monthly subscribers and challenge Netflix. HBO will continue to provide complete access to all its shows through HBO GO, the streaming service for its existing subscribers.
If you're looking to splurge on travel this year, you're not alone. Travelers around the world are planning to boost their spending in 2014, with the average person expecting to spend $6,136, up 3% from last year, according to a new survey from travel website TripAdvisor. The survey, conducted by research firm Ipsos, shows Aussies plan to spend the most cash on trips -- double the average -- at $12,393. Meanwhile, the Swiss, Kiwis, Brits and Germans are also big spenders, with the average individual planning to splash out over $8,300 on travel throughout the year. On the other end of the scale, people in Thailand expect to spend the least: $2,390.
