KeyBank receives "outstanding" rating from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency on its most recent Community Reinvestment Act exam; Georgia Bankers Association's board elects a new incoming president and CEO; BNY Mellon hires a former GEICO executive; and more in this week's banking news roundup.

Launched last July, FedNow had enrolled more than 600 participants by mid-March, according to government officials. That marked a 100% increase from the start of the year, with more banks and credit unions viewing fast payments capabilities as essential. Fraud concerns linger, however.

Instead of painting unionization as a barrier to business success, we should consider it an opportunity to rebuild trust, integrity and responsibility within the banking sector.

Some online banks that offer high-yield savings accounts are making those products a little less high-yielding. Banks are also shortening the duration of new CDs, hoping that anticipated rate cuts by the Fed will enable them to start paying less to consumers.

The beleaguered Long Island bank has recently seen at least 16 teams walk out the door, according to announcements by Dime Community Bancshares and Peapack-Gladstone Financial.

As American Express has evolved with new products, its largest digital design team is rethinking how to finesse online and mobile design with the customer at the forefront.

A solid majority of decision-makers at these companies expect to expand their workforces again this year, a Citizens Financial survey found. Loan losses are normally low in eras of economic expansion.

Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., ranking member of the Senate Banking Committee, introduced a Congressional Review Act resolution to undo the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's credit card late fee rule.

A combination of higher interest rates and increased vacancies — especially in office buildings — are leading to more apprehensions in commercial real estate.

The company has long been criticized for its lagging financial performance and its complexity. CEO Jane Fraser is pushing through Citigroup's most recent transformation plan, but will she succeed where her predecessors have failed?

First Busey closes acquisition of Merchants and Manufacturers Bank; Stax co-founders launch a new credit-scoring tool; UMB's marketing chief takes on consumer banking; and more in the weekly banking news roundup.

Based on the pace of deals through late March, the banking industry is on track for the most branch sales since 2021. Buyer interest has mounted alongside the need to acquire deposits, following hits to funding bases last year.

In an increasingly cashless society, having a basic bank account ought to be an inalienable right. Instead, we have a system that deliberately prevents millions of Americans from making even the simplest transactions.

Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Chair Martin Gruenberg said the agency would prioritize urging banks to invest in underserved communities as part of a revised economic inclusion plan unveiled Thursday.

The federal agency's director said Wednesday that regulators were working to refocus bank merger evaluations on community impact.

A year ago, the National Community Reinvestment Coalition accused KeyBank of redlining. On Wednesday, the NCRC and Key announced a $25 million "agreement" that NCRC CEO Jesse Van Tol says could open the door to a new community benefits plan.

Letitia James, the New York state attorney general, sued Citigroup and argued it should be liable for fraud cases involving consumer wire transfers. But Citi said the AG's view would bring about a "sea change in banking law."

Banking regulators and the Department of Justice must decide whether the blockbuster deal raises antitrust concerns. Looming over their analyses are questions about how broadly or narrowly to define the relevant markets.