Jim Dobbs

Lenders at an American Bankers Association conference this week railed against proposed regulatory requirements they argue could drive up costs, curb credit availability and ultimately hurt borrowers in already fragile economic times.

The world's biggest credit union will become the provider of banking services for U.S. armed forces members abroad, stepping into a void left by Bank of America. One credit union trade group is concerned that a potential deposit insurance snafu could threaten the program's viability.

The $23 million deal, signed in 2021 and initially projected to close in the second quarter of 2022, was delayed multiple times amid leadership turnover at the Los Angeles-based RBB.

Commercial real estate borrowers, including vulnerable office tower landlords, are increasingly struggling to make payments and, as a result, more lenders are expected to report higher credit costs.

A Piper Sandler poll found that 91% of respondents believe that either a mild or severe recession is already reflected in banks' shares. The survey also unveiled that market participants remain concerned mostly about credit quality and aftershocks from surging interest rates.

The parent companies of Cape Cod 5 and Fidelity Bank have agreed to combine under a multibank holding company called Mutual Bancorp. The bank units would keep their current names and operate independently but pool resources to improve efficiency.

Eighteen banks announced agreements to sell themselves last month. It was the most active month for bank deals since July 2022.

The combination would create a company with $27 billion of total assets, $18 billion of loans and $22.6 billion of deposits.

Lenders either write down portions of soured credits or charge them off altogether to remove them from their balance sheets. Banks also set aside reserves to cover potential future bad loans. This allowance creates a buffer for lenders to absorb losses.

Merchants Bancorp says it will sell a total of four branches to two buyers and focus more on its core residential mortgage lending business. Banks of all sizes have been pruning branch networks in recent years.

Ashton Ryan Jr. was convicted on dozens of fraud and conspiracy charges connected to the 2017 failure of the New Orleans bank he founded.

After a steep sell-off early in 2023, the sector has recovered ground in summer trading as recession worries ease. But investors remain wary because loan demand is light, deposit costs are high, and net interest margins are under pressure.

As the Latino population in the U.S. expands, so does the business case for banks and credit unions that want to tailor services for this audience.

Five Star Credit Union and Michigan State University Federal Credit Union announced a combined four bank acquisitions within a few days. They're among 10 credit union agreements to buy banks this year.

When the prices of U.S. goods and services soar, the Federal Reserve tends to raise its benchmark interest rate, and commercial banks are pinched in several fundamental parts of their business.

Michigan State University Federal Credit Union, seeking to add $300 million of assets in Illinois, has agreed to purchase McHenry Savings Bank.

Followers of Islam cannot pay interest on loans. Androscoggin Bank figured out a way to structure a new product that addresses that challenge and paves a path to more homeownership.

The plan calls for the formation of Orca Bank in Bellingham, Washington. It would become a subsidiary of Savi, whose CEO would assume the same role at the bank.

Two-thirds of business executives expect to pursue merger-and-acquisition deals over the next 12 months, according to a new EY survey. That's good news for larger banks with M&A advisory operations.

Community bankers anticipate that interest rates could soon level off and the broader economy may avert a downturn as a result. If that forecast proves true, lenders could minimize credit losses and enjoy stronger loan demand than they had expected earlier in the year.