Jim Dobbs

CenterState and South State are the latest regionals to announce a deal driven heavily by the need to compete with larger banks that can afford to spend more on cutting-edge technologies.

The Georgia bank's operating costs rose in the fourth quarter, but executives sought to assure shareholders that investments will produce revenue growth in the long run.

Commercial lending was sluggish in 2019, but leaders at Huntington, KeyCorp and M&T are encouraged that rates are stabilizing and business sentiment is improving.

Franklin Financial agreed to be sold less than a year after issues surfaced in its portfolio of shared national credits.

While the New York bank has a handle on deposit pricing, Joseph DePaolo said a new accounting standard will play tricks with how it addresses credit quality.

The Southeast banks expect to complete their merger by midyear, hit their savings targets and still be able to invest in growth, according to Bryan Jordan.

Brian Moynihan said banks must be mindful of pricing and risk as they contend with lower yields on loans and securities.

The banking giant is counting on continued growth in cards, deposits and digital accounts to drive returns higher in 2020.

Lower rates and more nonbank competition will make it harder for banks to keep loans on their books as business borrowers have plenty of opportunities to refinance elsewhere.

Organizers of Founders Bank in Washington still need to raise at least $25 million before opening.