Consumer Finance

HomeTrust Bancshares, which has been eyeing Virginia as part of its growth strategy, plans to acquire the formerly troubled Blue Ridge Bancshares in an all-stock transaction.

The New York State Department of Financial Services warned banks about a security vulnerability in IT software. Now it's acknowledged some companies it oversees were affected by it.

Competition for loans and deposits in Texas is mounting as out-of-state banks swoop into the Lone Star State, eager for a piece of the economic pie. Some Texas-headquartered banks are trying to hold their ground by doubling down on full relationships and customer service.

Bankers, particularly at the midsize and regional level, should be on the lookout for more opportunities to develop networked solutions to common problems, such as know-your-customer operations and fraud detection.

Northern Trust, Western Alliance Bank and Synovus led RepTrak's 2026 ranking by noncustomers, as direct experience with a firm produced wide gaps between how customers and outsiders viewed some banks.

Chime, USAA Bank and Regions led the customer reputation rankings in RepTrak's 2026 survey, in which respondents also placed particular emphasis on whether banks meet customer needs and operate ethically.

RepTrak's 2026 bank reputation survey found the industry retained a historically strong reputation, though underlying data suggests consumers are skeptical of artificial intelligence and banks' ability to self-police in a deregulatory environment.

BayFirst Financial in St. Petersburg plans to focus on larger commercial deals after repairing the damage from a failed strategy that emphasized small-dollar loans backed by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

The world's largest neobank had a strong quarter as it prepares to launch a bank in the U.S.