Laura Alix

The Bridgeport, Conn., company is developing a specialty in banking technology businesses. Like so many other small regionals with ambitious growth plans, it faces a tricky balancing act: how to take creative risks without getting in over its head.

Zack Bishop has experience in blending the systems of merged banks, according to Synovus, which this summer announced its first whole-bank deal in more than a decade.

There is a surprising amount of pessimism in the air among bankers, including fears of another recession and House Democratic activism. But there are lots of reasons financial institutions should be feeling good.

Christopher Kay will oversee the Buffalo, N.Y., bank's branch and ATM networks as well as development of products and services that seek to mimic the cutting-edge offerings of other industries.

Efforts to create city- or state-owned banks in Los Angeles, Seattle and New Jersey have suffered setbacks of late, but public banking advocates are taking the long view.

The lender is working with the fintech Biz2Credit to offer both secured and unsecured digital loans.

The bank has long had a program in place to train new employees, but now it’s testing a pilot to help retrain existing staff for different careers at the institution.

Raises for the rank and file have fueled investor complaints that banks aren’t keeping a lid on expenses. Executives say the pay increases have lowered turnover and improved customer service.

Banking industry groups said they were vindicated by the defeat of the ballot measure, but public banking advocates plan to keep pushing the idea.

The passage of Proposition 111, which also prohibits lenders from adding origination and monthly maintenance fees, makes Colorado the fifth state to impose caps on payday loans through a voter referendum.