The stable outlook is an indication that — at least for some lenders — the much-feared cycle of cardholders defaulting on their obligations in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic may not turn out to be so bad.

National Bankshares in Virginia agrees to acquire in-state peer, Advia Credit Union in Kalamazoo strikes deal with Illinois bank, EBANX's annual Beyond Borders study launches and more in the weekly banking news roundup.

After a 2023 that witnessed several significant bank failures, here's how bank regulators should be thinking about the danger of bank runs, and structuring their supervision, going forward.

The private student loan market is in flux after one major lender, Discover Financial Services, said it's leaving the sector. Sallie Mae is gearing up to compete for that business, much as it did when Wells Fargo pulled up stakes in 2020.

Lloyds Banking Group is cutting around 1,600 roles across its branches, part of a push by the lender to provide more services online.

The private equity firm Caryle is buying a $415 million student loan portfolio from Truist Financial. It's also investing in a nonbank student lender called Monogram that works with banks and credit unions.

John Watt, 65, will step down in May after more than seven years as president and CEO of NBT Bancorp in Norwich, New York. The plethora of internal candidates to succeed him made the decision a no-brainer, Watt says.

After California was hit hard by the banking crisis of 2023, tens of thousands of commercial and consumer customers turned to East West, helping the company achieve record full-year revenue, its CEO says.

The credit card issuer said it's "cautiously optimistic" about its borrowers' financial health, with charge-offs expected to rise not much further than pre-pandemic levels. The upbeat outlook contrasts with a key competitor's guidance of significantly higher losses.

The Indiana bank is "on offense by continuing to invest in new client-facing and key support talent and being ready and opportunistic for acquisitions," CEO Jim Ryan says.

Plaintiffs' lawyers are targeting various companies in connection with a California law that ensures customers can air grievances publicly without the threat of retribution. BofA and U.S. Bank say the suits against them are meritless.

Mike Abbott, global banking lead at Accenture, shared where he sees banks using the technology most effectively in the year ahead.

The top five banks and thrifts have combined total assets of nearly $13 trillion as of September 30, 2023.

January is Human Trafficking Prevention Month, and the financial services industry should take the opportunity to step up for survivors.

The expansion program, entering its sixth year, gives the Cincinnati-based company a regional profile few of its competitors can match, CEO Tim Spence said on a conference call with analysts.

Investors drove up the stock prices of both companies after Ally Financial said it's selling its point-of-sale lending business to Synchrony Financial. The deal is expected to help Ally focus on its bread-and-butter auto lending business, while also aiding Synchrony's efforts to gain market share.

Citizens Bank of Edmond's Jill Castilla is reappointed to Fed Advisory Council; Old National injects $1.2 billion into its existing community benefits program; former Ernst & Young CEO Mark Weinberger joins JPMorgan's board; and more in our weekly banking news roundup.

The top five banks and thrifts have a combined first mortgage loan volume of more than $1 trillion.

Industry Bancshares' bond portfolio is massively underwater, and one of its regulators says the company is in "troubled condition." But Industry says it was already working on fixes prior to the OCC's intervention, which it calls an "unfortunate example of regulatory overreach."

The Dallas bank's full-year results showed progress toward its long-term strategic goals despite a fourth-quarter drop-off in net interest income heavily tied to its mortgage business, executives said on an earnings call.