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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The Los Angeles bank, which disclosed the layoffs in a securities filing, is undergoing a broader restructuring under its new CEO. The bank expects $30 million to $40 million of savings per year from the job cuts.
By Polo RochaFebruary 21 -
If the industry's largest players reported more payment information to the credit bureaus, many consumers would qualify for better offers from competitors, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau said. It's the latest example of the bureau's increased scrutiny of credit card companies.
By Polo RochaFebruary 21 -
About 3% of borrowers in their 20s and 30s became seriously delinquent on their credit card payments last quarter, significantly faster than older consumers. The picture was similar in auto lending, according to research by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
By Polo RochaFebruary 16 -
A pullback by the buyers of Upstart's consumer loans led to a "challenging year," CEO Dave Girouard told analysts. But he added that the company is in "late-stage discussions" with partners that are looking to make longer-term commitments.
By Polo RochaFebruary 15 -
The San Francisco bank entered into a multiyear partnership with Choice Hotels, which operates brands such as Radisson, Comfort and Econo Lodge. The company had previously partnered on its credit cards with Barclays.
By Polo RochaFebruary 14 -
Banks that previously based more of their incentive compensation decisions on loan production are recalibrating this year. It is the latest sign of how competitive the deposit market has gotten.
By Polo RochaFebruary 12 -
Markets are beginning to price in a higher federal funds rate target as Federal Reserve officials hint at more restrictive policies to tamp down inflation.
By Polo RochaFebruary 8 -
In February 2018, the Federal Reserve prohibited the San Francisco-based bank from growing beyond $1.95 trillion. Five years later, analysts, investors and lawmakers are left with more questions than answers about the unprecedented enforcement action.
By Kyle Campbell and Polo RochaFebruary 7 -
Regulators are bringing enforcement cases while also proposing wider changes that would alter the industry for years to come. The scrutiny covers pricing discrimination, products that make car purchases more expensive and lenders' handling of repossessions.
By Polo RochaFebruary 6 -
After soured loans rose above the private student lender's expectations in 2022, its stock price fell 16% on Thursday. One analyst wrote that "persistent credit issues have damaged management's credibility."
By Polo RochaFebruary 3 -
A plan released Wednesday by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau was more aggressive than anticipated, leading to share price declines at Synchrony Financial, Capital One and Bread Financial. "This skews toward the worst-case scenario," one analyst wrote.
By Polo RochaFebruary 1 -
The San Mateo, California-based online consumer lender has now laid off some 500 employees in recent months. The downsizing reflects broader challenges in the tech industry, but it also comes as Upstart struggles to get enough funding for its loans.
By Polo RochaJanuary 31 -
The Rosemont, Illinois-based bank said its longtime CEO Ed Wehmer will retire from the post in May and become executive chairman. Timothy Crane, who joined Wintrust in 2008 and became its president in 2020, will take over the top job.
By Polo RochaJanuary 30 -
Credit Acceptance Corp., a major name in subprime auto finance, is facing a legal challenge over its lending practices. Some lawyers and analysts say the company's battle with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has broader implications for the rest of the industry.
By Polo RochaJanuary 29 -
The Boston bank reported broad-based increases in loans during the fourth quarter, and said it's upbeat about its forecast for 2023. "I think the reason why we're comfortable is because we haven't changed our credit box at all," said CEO Nitin Mhatre.
By Polo RochaJanuary 26 -
The McLean, Virginia-based bank is building its deposit base — in contrast with many banks that are starting to see outflows. But the growth is accompanied by rising interest expenses, which are expected to cut modestly into profit margins this year.
By Polo RochaJanuary 25 -
The declining credit quality included more borrowers with higher credit scores falling behind on their credit card payments. But executives said the increase remains within expectations as it continues seeing "very linear normalization" in credit.
By Polo RochaJanuary 23 -
The Wall Street Journal reported the Fed is investigating Goldman Sachs' Marcus division, the company's effort to reach U.S. consumers that has been scaled back. The New York bank's stock fell 2.5% after the news.
By Polo RochaJanuary 20 -
More consumers are struggling to pay their auto loans from Detroit-based Ally, but CEO Jeffrey Brown says executives "feel very good" about their preparations for a downturn. Investors appeared to like his message as its stock jumped 19%.
By Polo RochaJanuary 20 -
The Dallas-based bank, whose deposit base is more commercial-focused, has seen significant outflows in deposits over the past year. But last quarter's declines were "better than we expected," and there are other signs that the environment may moderate this year, its CFO said.
By Polo RochaJanuary 19



















