Jackie Stewart is the executive editor of American Banker Magazine. Previously, she covered breaking news, community banks and mergers and acquisitions for American Banker before being named as the managing editor of the Credit Union Journal. After graduating from Northwestern University in 2006, Jackie taught for two years in the Bronx, N.Y., through Teach for America.
Competitive pricing and softening demand at the high end of the apartment- and condo-building market had executives at BankUnited, Signature and New York Community answering tough questions about their growth projections and diversification strategies.
Recent steps by New York Community Bancorp to lower its borrowing costs paid off last quarter in higher net interest income and profits.
Several small and midsize banks generated large year-over-year loan growth despite a belief by some outsiders that a slowdown was looming. Bankers may have to spend coming months assuring investors that they can keep booking loans while adequately managing risk.
Synovus Financial in Columbus, Ga., reported lower quarterly earnings as salaries and personnel expenses increased.
The banking industry, in the face of prolonged challenges, is relying on professional help to improve in areas such as productivity, hiring and M&A. The hope is that being introspective now will limit the amount of costly mistakes in the future.
BofI Holding is looking to make more acquisitions and its leader says he doesnt think accusations from a former employee are unlikely to hold up a deal, even though theyve dragged down the stock price.
First Interstate BancSystem in Billings, Mont., announced its third deal in two years as it inched closer to $10 billion of assets.
The management team at Western Alliance Bancorp. has decades of experience with hotel development. The company's pending purchase of a large loan book and expansion into national hotel lending will be scrutinized in coming years.
Roughly 90 banks that participated in the government's lending program still owe money to the Treasury Department and face a massive dividend increase. Many of those could view selling as a better alternative to raising new capital.
Shareholders of KeyCorp in Cleveland and First Niagara Financial Group in Buffalo, N.Y., have approved Keys planned purchase of First Niagara.