The credit card lender's blockbuster acquisition of Discover is not guaranteed to get across the finish line. But co-founder and CEO Richard Fairbank appears to see the rewards that would come from controlling a payments network as outweighing the potential downside.

The application deadline for this annual ranking is May 10.

The top five banks and thrifts have combined total deposits of more than $7 trillion as of September 30, 2023.

Capital One Financial's proposed acquisition of Discover Financial Services would create a credit card behemoth with its own payments network. The deal is likely to draw tough regulatory scrutiny, though analysts say there are many compelling strategic reasons for the combination.

The median interest rate that large credit card issuers charged consumers with good credit in the first half of 2023 was 28.2%, compared with 18.15% at smaller banks and credit unions, according to a study by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which is on a campaign against excessive fees.

Community Bank System in Syracuse faced claims it failed to properly pay some branch-level employees, making it one of a growing number of banks forced to confront compensation-related disputes in recent months.

Buying North Shore Bancorp in Peabody, Massachusetts, would give Hometown nearly $6 billion of assets and a higher profile in New England.

The regulator's action indicates that — after years of overhauling its operations — the bank has finally shown it's in compliance with the agency's standards on sales conduct.

Financial institutions need to reconsider the logic and intuitiveness of their website design. They could also introduce free credit scores and capitalize on generative AI, experts say.

After focusing on cost control throughout much of 2023, including a round of job cuts, the Pittsburgh company has announced plans to expand in high-growth markets like Texas and refurbish more than 1,200 existing offices.

In all, the Denver-based bank plans to sell nine branches to two buyers as part of a decision to exit the state and invest more in technology and other markets where "it has the greatest growth potential."

New regulations involving cryptocurrency and the results of key elections will impact the industry's success this year.

Senior loan officers recently told the Federal Reserve that loan demand weakened and underwriting tightened last quarter, but both at a slower pace than three months earlier. They anticipate demand for credit will improve, especially in the back half of the year — provided rates begin to fall.

French payments company Worldline may cut 8% of its workforce, Moneygram advances its digital strategy by hiring four new leaders, Fed issues enforcement action against Peoples-Marion Bancorp and more in our weekly banking news roundup.

Federal prosecutors allege that Shan Hanes, the former CEO of the now defunct Heartland Tri-State Bank, illegally took money from customers to fund cryptocurrency investments. He could face up to 30 years in prison if convicted.

Known by his nickname Buz, John Gorman helped the Conference of State Bank Supervisors launch its nationwide cooperative agreement in 2006 and the National Multistate Licensing System for mortgage lenders two years later.

In a bid for scale and diversification, Illinois-based Empeople Credit Union said it would expand in Wisconsin with the planned acquisition of TSB Bank.

Just weeks ago, prospects seemed strong for bank stocks to regain ground after a volatile 2023. But renewed credit concerns stemming from issues at New York Community Bancorp, and the increasing odds that interest rates will remain high for months, have dampened that outlook.

As virtual assistants become central to banking, financial institutions of all sizes must embrace and leverage this transformation to redefine the customer experience.