A rising number of banks are looking to become community development financial institutions, emboldened by low-cost capital and an exemption from the ability-to-repay rule.

Captex Bancshares, which has been created by George Lea and Michael Thomas Jr., has an agreement to buy the $165 million-asset parent of First National Bank of Trenton. Captex did not disclose how much it would pay for the acquisition, which is expected to close in the first quarter.

Banks are making it easier to get approved for a checking account. But once-banished customers may not be able to use some of the features that made having an account attractive in the first place.

Without incentives to shoot higher, banks usually settle for "Satisfactory" on their Community Reinvestment Act exams, but many find that not getting a better grade has consequences.

The large marketplace lender is turning to everyday savers as it seeks to bounce back from a damaging scandal.

A year ago, 27-year-old software developer Roy Breidi was dreaming of launching a startup related to the digital currency bitcoin. Problem was, he “didn’t really understand what’s the magic behind it.”

Pacific Continental in Eugene, Ore., has appointed two former directors of a bank it bought to its own board.

Apple Pay got only a brief mention during the tech giant's introduction of the iPhone 7 on Sept. 7, but the changes have global implications.

First Financial Bancorp in Cincinnati has made Brad Ringwald its president of community banking; named Paul Silva the president of investment commercial real estate; tapped Rick Dennen to oversee the company's national lending businesses; and said Roddell McCullough, director of community development, will take on more responsibility helping determine the strategy for that area.

The trade group challenged the NCUA's member business lending rules enacted in February, but also hinted that it is prepared to file another lawsuit should the agency move forward with a separate regulation that would expand credit unions' field of membership.

Live Oak Bancshares in Wilmington, N.C., has formed a renewable energy lending division.

Who knows more about customers than banks? With great data comes great responsibility, though. Banks are expected to show their customers they know them, but are held to a higher standard than, say, Netflix.

Teller-less branches at SafeWay stores helped Boeing Employees Credit Union boost membership by nearly 50% between 2009 and 2015.

Opus Bank in Irvine, Calf., has given more responsibilities to its head of capital markets.

Despite their slowdown in growth, marketplace lenders are still in good position to gain from the digitization of the financial services industry.

Making good on threats it had made previously, the Independent Community Bankers of America filed suit Wednesday against the National Credit Union Administration, claiming the agency's recent overhaul of its member business lending rules violate two different laws.

Fintech is transforming consumer financial services, but automation and data innovation can also help banks meet their growing regulatory demands.

USAA has updated its digital platforms to give customers more control over unexpected declines on large transactions and access to service representatives on its website.

BancorpSouth in Tupelo, Miss., has hired Kyle Gilliam as president of its equipment finance and leasing division.

Meta Financial Group in Sioux Falls, S.D., has promoted Cynthia Smith, its head of technology and operations, to chief operating officer.