Robert Barba is the technology editor of American Banker. Robert previously served as deputy editor of American Banker's dealmaking and strategy section. He joined American Banker in late 2007 as a community banking reporter, just in time for the financial crisis. Robert played a lead role in covering community banks' struggle for survival in the years following the downturn. Robert has appeared on Fox Business to discuss bank failures and the Treasury Department's Troubled Asset Relief Program. Prior to joining American Banker, Robert was a general business reporter at Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers in Stuart, Fla. He began his career as a business desk intern at The Denver Post and Boulder Daily Camera. Robert is based in New York.
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Kevin Cummings, CEO of Investors Bancorp, wants to reach $30 billion in assets in the next six years, but he admits that Investors must sharpen its focus on commercial clients to achieve that objective.
May 8 -
The company will soon exceed $50 billion in assets, which will bring with it added scrutiny and possible pressure to lower its dividend. CEO Joseph Ficalora is hopeful that he can preserve a high dividend, even though regulators appear to have a preference for repurchase activity.
May 5 -
MB Financial's acquisition of Taylor Capital is facing a potential delay as regulators examine Cole Taylor Bank for a possible violation of a section of the Federal Trade Commission Act.
April 30 -
The company had been looking for a deal for a few years and finally found one in OmniAmerican, a former credit union that converted to a stock-owned company in 2010.
April 29 -
Multiple bidders are the new normal in bankruptcy auctions of banks. Case in point is Banner Corp., which anticipates at least one competing offer for Idaho Banking in Boise. Some banks are increasingly letting an initial bidder bear the preparatory expense before swooping in with a higher price.
April 28 -
Veteran bank analyst Terry McEvoy has left Oppenheimer to join Sterne Agee.
April 25 -
Idaho Banking is the latest bank set to change hands through the bankruptcy process.
April 25 -
Bankers aren't normally thought of as sartorial trendsetters, but JPMorgan Chase and Huntington recently won awards from the Image Apparel Institute for their branch employees' uniforms.
April 24 -
How Popular's decision to sell operations in California, Illinois and central Florida fit into the plans of three community banks looking to grow.
April 23 -
The Portland, Ore., company aquired Sterling Financial last week. Though it created a $22 billion-asset regional player in the Pacific Northwest, CEO Ray Davis says the bank can keep its identify as a community bank.
April 21 -
Associated Banc-Corp (ASBC) in Green Bay, Wisc., reported a profit of $44 million in the first quarter, down 4.6% from the same period last year, as fee income fell and credit costs increased.
April 17 -
Consumers can now use Lending Club to pay for schooling or elective medical procedures.
April 17 -
Executives at U.S. Bancorp, PNC and Huntington all sounded cautiously optimistic about lending opportunities and each has a favorite region when it comes to finding borrowers.
April 16 -
The Chicago-area company has shown a willingness to pursue small branch deals and expand in nearby Wisconsin as it looks for liquidity and lending opportunities.
April 16 -
The company, which was an active acquirer before the financial crisis, has returned to its roots after a long hiatus brought on by the downturn and integration problems. Archie Brown, who became CEO in 2008, says the company is taking a more disciplined approach this time.
April 14 -
Wintrust Financial (WTFC) in Rosemont, Ill., has agreed to buy 11 branches in Wisconsin from Talmer Bancorp (TLMR) in Troy, Mich.
April 10 -
The Independent Community Bankers of America is taking issue with Wall Street's opinion that banks need scale to survive. The group has urged members to tune out "defeatist talk" about smaller banks.
April 9 -
The Michigan company has pledged $1 million to help people buy homes in the Marygrove College neighborhood. Homeowners can get up to $25,000 and have $5,000 shaved off the balance each year they live there.
April 9 - PH
Diamond's African Voyage; BlackRock's Shuffle; BNY Mellon Showdown
April 7 -
The rising costs of regulatory compliance, health insurance and technology prompted Mountain Valley Bank to merge with a company that once was its biggest investor.
April 4
