Laura Alix

Two new government reports suggest that U.S. consumers’ fortunes have improved since the start of the pandemic, with bankruptcies falling sharply and fewer people falling behind on bills. But it’s not clear how long the positive trends will sustain themselves as government relief efforts wind down and evictions and foreclosures resume.

Human resources professionals predict that 2021 will be a year of rampant job-hopping as workers who were reluctant to make a move during the pandemic are now reassessing what they want.

Large banks like Chase, PNC and U.S. Bank were seen as having more resources to devote to customer relief and upgrade digital channels that consumers came to rely on, according to a J.D. Power survey.

CEO John Turner said green projects present a strong business opportunity for the Birmingham, Ala., company.

The Portland, Ore., company has a simple growth plan: convert more Paycheck Protection Program borrowers into long-term customers.

Morgan Stanley was also among 43 banks worldwide to sign on as initial members of the Net-Zero Banking Alliance. Convened by the United Nations, the group has pledged to help clients in carbon-intensive industries — including transportation, mining and agriculture — reduce their reliance on fossil fuels.

The Ohio company has opened just 32 of 120 new branches it plans in the region by 2022, but those offices are making a sizable contribution to growth.

The Connecticut company has struggled to put deposits from its health savings account business to work across the Northeast. Buying Sterling Bancorp for $5 billion will provide Webster with new opportunities in a number of business lines, including asset-based lending and equipment finance.

The leaders of Citizens Financial and Truist predict lending will bounce back in the second half of 2021 as the economy normalizes. But PNC chief Bill Demchak says there are scant signs that businesses are gearing up for a rebound.

The company’s payments services business has struggled during the pandemic, but executives are counting on commercial clients’ embrace of real-time payments to help fuel the unit’s growth in 2021.