Wells Fargo makes a $1.5 million investment in Black entrepreneurship; America Express promotes small businesses through augmented reality; shareholders approve the Banc of California-PacWest merger; and more in the weekly banking news roundup.

Bankers are hopeful that several factors could strengthen profits next year, including higher loan demand and more stable funding costs as the Fed holds the line on — or even lowers — interest rates.

Only 65.8% of surveyed households said they would be able to come up with $2,000 if an unexpected need arose within the next month, according to the NY Fed's latest survey of consumer expectations and credit access,

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.

West Plains Bank and Trust in Missouri, No. 11 on this year's Best Banks to Work For ranking, wins high marks for constructive training, employee development, team culture — as well as excellent benefits.

The financial institutions in American Banker's Best Banks to Work For ranking are skilled in hiring new talent and ensuring those employees want to stay.

This year 90 banks made American Banker's 11th annual Best Banks to Work For ranking. The leaders of these institutions explain what it takes to be an employer of choice.

Financial institutions can deploy generative artificial intelligence to connect with young consumers and turn them into customers for life.

Diebold Nixdorf is using artificial intelligence to spot trouble proactively — a move that has already increased ATM uptime by up to 3.5%.

Gov. Jim Justice alleges that Carter Bancorp engineered a technical default on a multi-million lending relationship and has blocked his company's efforts to refinance with other lenders. The lawsuit extends a dispute that started after the death of the bank's founder in 2017.