Polo Rocha is a Mexico-based freelance reporter who worked at American Banker from 2021 to early 2025, covering consumer finance and national banking trends. He previously covered the Federal Reserve at S&P Global Market Intelligence and state politics at WisPolitics.com. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and has a master's in finance degree from Johns Hopkins University.
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Unions have historically had little success organizing bank employees, but recent high-profile gains for the labor movement have fueled hopes that will change. The two elections at Wells Fargo will be a test.
By Polo RochaNovember 20 -
Credit problems in business loans have risen in recent months, as companies that are in a weak financial position have started closing up shop. The difficulty in gauging which banks will face the most trouble is prompting many investors to stay away from the sector.
By Polo RochaNovember 17 -
2023 proved to be a rocky year for large regional banks. But under CEO Bill Demchak's guidance, the Pittsburgh-based company has navigated the turmoil better than many of its peers.
By Polo RochaNovember 16 -
Share prices climbed sharply amid increased optimism about the outlook for interest rates. Regional banks that got hammered earlier this year were among the biggest winners.
By Polo RochaNovember 15 -
The Cincinnati-based bank, which purchased a solar lender last year, is facing an investigation from 17 state attorneys general over the acquired company's lending practices and contractor network. One solar panel installer has gone bankrupt and faced complaints across the country.
By Polo RochaNovember 9 -
The San Carlos, California, consumer lender said it's "exploring strategic options" for its credit card portfolio, discontinuing its investment and retirement products and sunsetting a partnership with Sezzle in addition to embarking on a new round of job cuts.
By Polo RochaNovember 7 -
More banks are selling their underwater bond portfolios at a loss, crystallizing what were previously losses on paper only. Though the maneuver brings some short-term pain, the banks expect to make the money back over time.
By Polo RochaNovember 6 -
The lawsuit by state Attorney General Keith Ellison is the latest challenge to high-cost loans by tribal lenders. The lenders argue that tribal sovereignty gives them immunity from such lawsuits.
By Polo RochaNovember 2 -
As the holiday shopping season approaches, late payments on credit cards have surpassed their pre-pandemic levels, according to a new VantageScore report. The consumers showing signs of deterioration include not only subprime borrowers, but also those with prime credit scores.
By Polo RochaOctober 31 -
Thomas Nides, who until recently was U.S. ambassador to Israel, is leaving his post as the megabank's head of lobbying, communications and community relations. He said recent events in Israel and Gaza "have had a profound effect on me, in ways that I could not have imagined."
By Polo RochaOctober 27