Credit unions are hoping for a return to normal credit card spending patterns sometime during the second half, but the pandemic has created a domino effect of complicating factors.

Community banks say Vizaline’s software, which converts property descriptions into images, helps them catch errors before they close real estate loans without resorting to expensive land surveys. But traditional surveyors say the results are of questionable value.

Vast Bank in Oklahoma is one of the first to allow customers to purchase digital currencies, a market that has proved lucrative for fintechs.

Canada’s fourth-largest bank is pressing ahead with big technology investments to cut costs and try to generate more revenue from existing customers, said Erminia Johannson, BMO’s head of personal and business banking for the U.S. and Canada.

The San Antonio-based company has promoted Paul Vincent to president of its banking unit. Neeraj Singh, previously chief risk officer for Citi’s U.S. consumer bank, has joined the parent company as chief risk officer.

Gemini Trust now offers a credit card and an uninsured savings account for bitcoin holders that pays 7.4% interest. It is the latest example of a cryptocurrency company marketing banklike products.

About 70% of Bank of America's customers are now “digitally active” and 17 million people use Erica, its virtual assistant. David Tyrie, who was recently promoted to head of digital, would like to get that rate up to 100%.

MoneyLion, a mobile banking, lending and investment platform, is in talks to go public through a merger with Fusion Acquisition, a blank-check company, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

Comerica, Citizens Financial and other companies are buying up securities, paying off high-cost borrowing and trying to develop specialty lending niches. But loan growth remains weak, and the likelihood of extreme volatility in deposits makes it hard to plan ahead.

The administration’s initiative to offer universal high-speed internet service is a chance for bankers to provide underserved households with access to online financial education and low-cost digital accounts.

The credit union expects to open at least eight branches across the country in the months ahead, about half of what it normally adds to its brick-and-mortar network in an average year.

Barry Orr, who formed FirstBank & Trust of Texas in the 1990s, continued to run the bank after selling it to Heartland Financial USA in 2018.

The Buffalo, N.Y., bank and Railz are working together to analyze accounting data to provide small firms with fresh insight into the health of their operations.

Acquisitions of wealth management, insurance, fintech and other firms are expected to pick up as banks seek new sources of fee income and look to improve digital capabilities.

Stock Yards Bancorp in Louisville says it would pay $190 million in cash and stock for Kentucky Bancshares.

The investment fund HoldCo Asset Management said the $900 million price tag of the agreement with SVB Financial Group “substantially undervalues” Boston Private Financial Holdings.

The bank will start with a mobile checking account for U.K. customers this year, followed by a full slate of products that could include credit cards, mortgages and car loans.

The Georgia company increased its target for annual expense cuts and new revenue to $175 million from $100 million. But executives warned that low interest rates and weaker mortgage volume, along with a need to invest in technology, will delay some of the bottom-line benefits.

The companies are reacting to an ongoing shift in customer preferences to digital channels.

The ATM and payment terminal makers are facing more competition from software providers. Both have taken steps to head off this threat.