Corporate governance

NuMark Credit Union said it would buy Lemont National Bank. After a record-setting 2024, it's only the second such credit union-bank combination so far this year.

Forecasters on an American Bankers Association panel predict continued economic growth this year, though they say President Trump's tariffs have created new inflation and recession risks.

Small lenders across the country filled leadership positions, including Orrstown Financial Services and QCR Holdings.

The Los Angeles-based parent company of Bank of Hope expects to complete its acquisition of Honolulu-based Territorial in April. The $79 million deal faced challenges when an investor group made a competing bid.

Concentrating in narrow specialties can attract both relatively low-cost deposits and low-risk loans in an era of high interest rates and economic uncertainty, lenders say.

The Connecticut bank expects to report a $9.5 million net loss for the fourth quarter, but it said it's made headway in its efforts to cultivate investors and bolster its capital levels.

Deal advisors said the Trump administration's tariff threats and the specter of inflation have given some bankers reason to pause on acquisition plans. Momentum could still mount, but uncertainty in Washington is a detriment early in the new year.

Up from $26 million in 2023, Jane Fraser's compensation last year saw the largest increase so far among heads of big U.S. banks.

Small lenders produced net interest margin expansion in the fourth quarter, thanks in large part to interest rate cuts in the second half of 2024. Festering inflation, however, threatens to lead to rate increases that could stall their momentum.

Citi's head of wealth said the firm is already working with a quarter of the billionaires in the world through its private bank. Now it just needs them to entrust it with managing more of their money.

Joseph Otting, who is leading Flagstar's turnaround, said potential buyers may be interested in acquiring the regional bank once it gets past certain challenges.

The superregional in Pittsburgh said banks large enough to attract its attention have yet to put themselves on the sale block. PNC's finance chief said, "We just have to be ready if and when those windows open."

The Canadian bank plans to exit its 10.1% interest in the brokerage firm, allowing it to shore up capital and strategically shrink to adhere to penalties related to its historic compliance failures.

Oil and gas companies are borrowing to invest in more drilling and new processing facilities to meet rising global needs for U.S. fossil fuels. Several banks said energy loan demand is expected to strengthen further this year.

Small lenders beset by the fallout from high interest rates took losses in the fourth quarter when they unloaded underperforming securities and loans. But they are reinvesting the proceeds into higher-yielding assets.

Small lenders across the country filled leadership positions, including The Peoples Savings Bank in Ohio, which promoted from within to name its first woman CEO.

The big payday comes after a year in which the bank made progress toward the removal of a federally imposed asset cap.

The Dallas bank made some headway on its goal to slim down its multifamily loan portfolio, but $17 million in bad loans led to a bottom-line loss in the fourth quarter.

The Long Island-based company, which is in the middle of a makeover, saw its stock price rise sharply after reporting a net loss that was less than what analysts expected.