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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Remote deposit capabilities have vastly improved banking services for residents of villages in western Alaska. But unreliable service means some face difficulties when trying to access their banking apps or make payments.
By Polo RochaDecember 13 -
Employees of a Lake Michigan Credit Union branch say they're fighting to organize after upper management failed to respond to their complaints about pay disparity, COVID-19 benefits and more.
December 13 -
The Texas company has set up commercial banking offices in Charleston and Greenville, and it has established a private banking office in Atlanta. Its long-term goal is to build a branch network in some key Southeastern markets.
By Polo RochaDecember 5 -
In an appeals court filing, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau wrote that a federal judge "ignored regulatory text, history and context" when she ruled against a PNC customer. The consumer argues that the bank shouldn't have pulled funds from his checking account after he was tardy in making payments on his home equity line of credit.
By Polo RochaDecember 4 -
Both Canadian banks are awaiting green lights from regulators for their pending acquisitions of U.S. banks. "We don't control the timing of all the regulatory approvals," TD's chief executive said Thursday.
By Polo RochaDecember 1 -
Central Pacific Bank, which has branches on the Big Island, is tracking the eruption of Mauna Loa in an effort to limit the risk of service interruptions. So far, the impacts appear to be limited.
By Polo RochaNovember 29 -
The Canadian banking giant reached a five-year deal with community groups that includes $40 billion in investments to underserved groups. BMO aims to close its acquisition of San Francisco-based Bank of the West before the end of the year.
By Polo RochaNovember 28 -
Banks are underwater on many bonds they bought before interest rates began their sharp rise. The impact has been wide-ranging — decreasing the industry's interest in stock buybacks, dampening the appetite for M&A and raising concerns about some smaller institutions' ability to borrow from the Federal Home Loan banks.
By Polo RochaNovember 21 -
Brown has been with the online lender almost since it was spun off from General Motors, helping it broaden its product offerings and take a stand on overdraft fees. Now he must help Ally confront a looming recession.
By Polo RochaNovember 21 -
The $121 billion-asset consumer lender paused its share repurchase program in July as it conducted an internal investigation of its servicing practices. Analysts said the resumption of buybacks is a positive sign regarding the company's ability to resolve the lingering issues.
By Polo RochaNovember 16 -
The acquisition will add $8 billion of assets under management to the Illinois bank's wealth subsidiary. It marks another example of U.S. banks bolstering their wealth management businesses in a bid to collect more fee income.
By Polo RochaNovember 15 -
The quickly shifting deposit picture — an effect of the Federal Reserve's rapid interest rate increases — is prompting many banks to raise rates to prevent depositors from leaving. Several institutions saw their loan-to-deposit ratios jump above 100% during the third quarter.
By Polo RochaNovember 13 -
A ballot initiative that places additional restrictions on debt collectors and decreases the interest rates that can be charged on medical debt passed Tuesday by an overwhelming margin. Consumer advocates say it will ease the burden on households dealing with hardship, but industry groups contend that it will make credit more expensive.
By Polo RochaNovember 10 -
During the third quarter, revenues at the online consumer lender fell by 31% from the previous three months. CEO Dave Girouard expressed dissatisfaction but also argued that the company's lending model is working as intended.
By Polo RochaNovember 9 -
Executives from PNC, Regions and M&T are expressing confidence that their loan books can withstand a recession. "We don't see crisis-type things in front of us right now," said PNC Chief Financial Officer Robert Reilly.
By Polo RochaNovember 3 -
The online consumer lender has told about 140 employees who process loan applications that it is eliminating their positions. The job cuts come as Upstart struggles to get banks and other investors interested in buying enough of its loans.
By Polo RochaNovember 2 -
Kristy Fercho, who's run the bank's home lending division since August 2020, will report directly to CEO Charlie Scharf and sit on the operating committee. Last year, she became the first Black person to chair the Mortgage Bankers Association, and she took the top spot in American Banker's Most Powerful Women to Watch this year.
By Polo RochaNovember 1 -
The agreement, which still needs court approval, should help what remains of the online small-business lender as it moves through bankruptcy proceedings. After Kabbage emerged as a major Paycheck Protection Program lender, some of its key assets were sold to American Express.
By Polo RochaOctober 31 -
Pricing discipline at the Georgia bank contributed to a 3.5% quarter-over-quarter decline in deposits. To stem the tide, the company plans to lean into core deposits, brokered deposits and advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank System.
By Polo RochaOctober 20 -
Yet the Detroit company's stock fell more than 8% after its earnings report, indicating the market "seems more tentative" than Ally about the credit outlook, one analyst said.
By Polo RochaOctober 19




















