John Reosti

Directors at credit unions used to work for free, but that is starting to change — and it's rankling banking industry officials who say it's another example of the nonprofit cooperatives mimicking banks without shouldering the same tax burden.

Finally released from a long-standing regulatory order, FNBH in Michigan is looking forward to ramping its lending, expanding its capabilities in wealth management and moving forward on plans to revamp its core processing system.

The agency made good on a vow to make 2015 the "year of regulatory relief," causing headaches for the banking industry in areas such as field of membership and member business lending.

Despite getting off to what CUs likely consider a rocky start with the agency’s second attempt at RBC, industry observers say Matz came through on her promise of a ‘Year of Regulatory Relief.’

Why a small bank like First Mid-Illinois ignored the conventional wisdom — 'Commercial banks buy property/casualty firms.' 'Private-equity will outbid you.' 'Leave the innovation to the big guys.' — and bought a retail health-insurance agency.

Achieva Credit Union is believed to be the first institution of its kind to complete a whole-bank acquisition. The deal could provide a template for other credit unions keen on buying banks.

Achieva Credit Union is believed to be the first institution of its kind to complete a whole-bank acquisition. The deal could provide a template for other credit unions keen on buying banks.

Darien Rowayton Bank used funds from a 2010 recapitalization to start refinancing student loans in a move that, so far, has been lucrative for the institution.

The head of the Independent Community Bankers of America fires a legal warning at NCUA and says relations between the two industries has never been more strained.

The head of the Independent Community Bankers of America fires a legal warning at NCUA and says relations between the two industries has never been more strained.

It wasn't enough for the agency to propose sweeping changes to field of membership at Thursday's meeting, as regulators also tackled the budget, OTR and industry calls for a longer exam cycle at a meeting that was punctuated by the some of the sharpest exchanges yet between Chairman Debbie Matz and Board Member J. Mark McWatters.

The agency's board, however, delayed action on a contentious proposal to increase a key population threshold for determining fields of membership in metropolitan markets. Bankers remain on alert, however, because the agency has indicated an interest in revisiting the issue.

The NCUA Board has a lot on its plate as it prepares for its regular monthly meeting tomorrow. It's scheduled to approve a budget and set the fee schedule and overhead transfer rate that will fund NCUA's operations in 2016 and tackle field of membership rules, as well.

A joint venture formed by a regional credit union trade group and a loan servicer has a simple mission: to help small credit unions that lack expertise in SBA lending jump into the booming 7(a) market.

A joint venture formed by a regional credit union trade group and a loan servicer has a simple mission: to help small credit unions that lack expertise in SBA lending jump into the booming 7(a) market.

Salvatore Marranca and Garrett Richter have a lot in common: both found success in the banking world after army service in Vietnam. It was that wartime experience, though, that set them apart from most of their peers.

Parke Bancorp in New Jersey decided to sell its SBA lending business when it realized the group had national aspirations. Berkshire Hills Bancorp, a larger bank in Massachusetts, was pleased to buy the unit.

A small, but growing, number of banks reported issues with credit during the third quarter. While most instances seem manageable, some industry observers believe bigger challenges could arise in 2016.

A move by the National Labor Relations Board could force more legal liability on franchisors for actions taken by their franchisees. Some observers believe banks could become more reluctant lending to smaller franchisors until the issue has more clarity.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. recently held meetings with state regulators in which agency officials emphasized that they are open to new applicants, responding to criticism that the standards for granting deposit insurance have been too high.