Jim Dobbs

Quick forbearance actions averted an immediate hit to asset quality, but executives warned that a spike in unemployment and a looming recession will cause long-term problems.

By helping borrowers now, banks hope customers can quickly catch up on payments once the coronavirus pandemic ends. If they can’t, interest income will remain low and charge-offs could pile up if the crisis drags on.

The pandemic could lead to a sharp rise in defaults and loan requests from farmers who have struggled with low prices and the impact of trade wars.

The newly minted Transact Bank will provide payment processing and card issuing services to a wide range of clients.

Commercial real estate lenders have to consider not only how they’ll weather the COVID-19 downturn, but whether worker and consumer habits have changed for good.

An uptick in closings is likely, but how many institutions go under and how fast will depend on a variety of factors, including the duration of the pandemic.

Bankers will be pressed on upcoming earnings calls to forecast how the coronavirus pandemic — and the government's response — will shape credit quality, margins and fee income.

The surge in online and mobile use is a high-profile test for the industry — and could foreshadow a permanent consumer shift.

The Federal Reserve's support for the commercial paper market made clear that it was willing to go beyond cutting interest rates, but the central bank may feel pressure to do even more as the crisis worsens.

Bankers say they understand the need for an extraordinary government response to the coronavirus outbreak, but worry that even slashing interest rates won’t stimulate demand.