HoldCo Asset Management drops its pursuit of proxy battles with Columbia Banking System and First Interstate; Cape Cod's Mutual Bancorp prepares to acquire Bluestone Bank; Servbank HoldCo announces plans to acquire IF Bancorp; and more in this week's banking news roundup.

Crypto is slowly but surely being integrated into the banking applications consumers trust and use every day. It's not the crypto revolution purists imagined, but it's very good news for consumers and bankers alike.

Existing law already provides the tools that would allow an across-the-board upgrade in digital identity verification, with benefits to banks and consumers alike. Regulators are the roadblock.

The volume of home equity lines of credit expanded for the 14th consecutive quarter, driven largely by fintechs and other nonbanks that are accounting for more and more of the business.

Analysts say the fintech must "grow like a fintech, but be profitable like a bank" as its capital base shrinks to its lowest level to date.

Jerry Plush had helmed the South Florida-based bank for nearly five years before agreeing to depart this week. News of the leadership change comes little more than a week after Amerant reported a 43% increase in nonperforming assets.

Policymakers must avoid looking at community banks as institutions of the past that no longer have a place or function in our financial system and stop prioritizing large banks and technology companies.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is considering a proposal to reduce its oversight of auto finance lenders, saying the benefits of supervision may not justify the "increased compliance burdens."

At its first investor day in a decade and a half, the nation's second-largest bank pegged its guidance for return on tangible common equity at a slightly higher level than what it reported last quarter. Not all investors were impressed.

After more than a quarter-century as a regulator, Jason Sisack had planned to enjoy some time off before taking a new job. He reversed course once Carver, which is operating under an enforcement action, approached him.

Susan Riel, who helped found Eagle Bancorp nearly three decades ago, will step down as CEO in 2026. The bank is embarking on a search for her successor.

The financial services industry is relying on outdated methods of detecting and fighting fraud. With the assistance of artificial intelligence, criminals are penetrating vulnerable systems. It's time for collective action.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has seen a rapid drop in the effectiveness of its cybersecurity program, according to a new report from the Fed's Office of Inspector General.

Community banks are often pressured by regulators to hold significantly higher capital than regulations require, using one-size-fits-all rules of thumb. Well-managed community banks deserve the ability to make the case for lowering their capital levels.

BayFirst Financial, which has reported problems with SBA loans, expects to reach an agreement with its regulators in connection with credit administration and other issues.

New York State's former top regulator Adrienne A. Harris has rejoined Sullivan & Cromwell as of counsel and senior policy advisor; Founders Bank appointed Karen Grau to its board of directors; Deutsche Bank's DWS Group is opening an office in Abu Dhabi; and more in this week's banking news roundup.

There are plenty of ways that lawmakers could help community bankers. Raising federal deposit insurance limits by a factor of 40 isn't one of them.

A new study has decoded banks' television commercials, analyzing what the messaging reveals about the bank behind the advertisement. When an ad leans too hard on emotions, researchers found, viewers should beware.

Top SBA lenders are warning about the impact of a prolonged shutdown. NewtekOne skipped providing fourth-quarter guidance after its CEO said the situation was too cloudy to forecast.

In comment letters on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's new rulemaking on personal financial data rights, consumers begged the agency to protect their data from misuse.