Laura Alix

Two state assembly members introduced legislation that would let the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank accept deposits from public entities and provide financing to small businesses and local governments.

The new Center for Climate-Aligned Finance will help financial institutions navigate the various challenges involved in the shift to renewable energy — as lenders, power consumers and corporate citizens. Its backers include JPMorgan and Bank of America.

The Wisconsin banking company recently agreed to subscribe to five solar gardens to trim power costs at 39 branches. The move, part of a broader sustainability push, also could benefit rural communities, Associated said.

BBVA USA in Birmingham, Ala., says it will use a proprietary score based on multiple sources of coronavirus-related information to determine when certain branches are ready for walk-in traffic.

Reading Cooperative Bank recently launched a program that aims to hire young Black and Hispanic adults from low-income communities. Its leaders say it’s part of a broad strategy to develop new pipelines of talent and better serve low-income communities.

The coronavirus outbreak forced BBVA USA to rethink a plan to add 15 branches in Texas, but it decided to move ahead anyway, albeit with a few tweaks.

In response to the Federal Reserve's stress tests, Wells said it will lower its third-quarter distribution to shareholders. Meanwhile, JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs and five other companies announced stress test capital buffers that exceed the minimum requirement.

The company announced a slate of changes on Monday that includes the creation of a new position overseeing strategy for corporate and commercial banking.

Titi Cole was recruited away from Wells Fargo to join Citi as head of global operations and fraud prevention. She’ll report to Jane Fraser, the CEO of global consumer banking.

Banks are beginning to emphasize soft skills to help employees make “human” connections with customers in an environment of reduced face-to-face contact.

From hiring to health care, Vice Chair Anne Finucane shares details about Bank of America’s pledge to address vital needs in minority communities.

Executives argue the rollouts will largely focus on new markets and work in tandem with digital banking efforts.

Lenders are cautioning not only that second-quarter provisions might exceed the spike seen earlier this year, but also that credit costs could be elevated into 2021 if the economic slowdown drags on or fears of a second coronavirus wave are borne out.

The venture with Goldman Sachs represents the first time Amazon has let a third party control the underwriting process of one of its financing offerings.

Leaders of companies including Citizens, Comerica and Truist offered more upbeat assessments of loan demand and credit quality than they have in recent weeks. But others warned of weakness in key sectors such as energy and real estate, and said forbearance policies may be hiding potential pitfalls.

Lenders have a role to play in the national reconciliation that must follow the recent racial unrest — providing greater access to capital for African Americans and other underserved groups so they can build wealth, activists said at a panel discussion hosted by Berkshire Bank in Boston.

James Smith, who recently completed his gradual transition out of banking, was spearheading a public-private economic development plan for Connecticut when the coronavirus pandemic hit. The crisis made the need for the plan greater — and the job harder.

The funds will be used to support housing, job training and aid for small businesses in communities that have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic.

Customers' increased use of digital channels during the pandemic could compel the Minneapolis company to rethink its branch strategy, CEO Andy Cecere said.

Demand has soared for mental health services as bank employees put in long hours, supervise kids while working at home and endure personal crises. Citi, BofA, Fifth Third and others are getting creative to help them decompress during the pandemic.