Kevin Wack is American Banker's national editor, and is based in southern California. He was formerly the publication's consumer finance reporter and its Capitol Hill correspondent. Earlier, he worked on financial policy in Washington. He has also reported for the Associated Press and worked as the investigative reporter for the Portland Press Herald in Maine.
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Plaintiffs' lawyers are targeting various companies in connection with a California law that ensures customers can air grievances publicly without the threat of retribution. BofA and U.S. Bank say the suits against them are meritless.
By Kevin WackJanuary 22 -
The custody bank is managing expectations about its 2024 performance while assuring investors that profits will improve significantly in the medium term. AI is one path it's pursuing.
By Kevin WackJanuary 12 -
When big banks kick off earnings season on Friday, industry observers will be paying close attention to loan growth, deposit growth, expense growth, credit quality and capital ratios. All five areas will offer clues about the industry's trajectory in 2024.
January 11 -
Royal Bank of Canada hopes to save money by moving positions from high-cost California to Vancouver. The Toronto-based company is looking to cut costs as it seeks to bolster the earnings of its Los Angeles-based City National Bank subsidiary.
By Kevin WackJanuary 10 -
The Justice Department and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau are suing a real estate developer over an alleged bait-and-switch land-sale scheme near Houston. The developer used TikTok and other social media sites to lure Hispanic immigrants into predatory loans, the government alleges.
By Kevin WackDecember 20 -
The Ohio Democrat is pressuring the CEOs of JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Citigroup and Wells Fargo to proactively provide financial benefits to active-duty service members. Those protections are enshrined in a 2003 law, but many service members do not seek them out.
By Kevin WackDecember 14 -
The five banks that went under in 2023 had nearly $550 billion of assets, the largest total in a single year. Here's a look back at how they unraveled.
By Kevin WackDecember 13 -
Top industry executives said this week that price increases are abating, even if they haven't yet fully abated. Their remarks reflect increased confidence that the Federal Reserve will hold interest rates steady — or perhaps even cut them — in the first half of 2024.
By Jim DobbsDecember 7 -
Los Angeles-based City National Bank recorded a $247 million loss during a tumultuous final quarter of its fiscal year. But executives at the bank's Canadian parent company say they expect a return to profitability in the first quarter.
By Kevin WackNovember 30 -
The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a case that has large stakes for bankers who get into hot water with their regulators. Conservative justices asked tough questions of a Biden administration lawyer who defended agencies' reliance on administrative law judges.
By Kevin WackNovember 29