Corporate governance

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.

The Reno, Nevada-based buyer said it would pay $64.6 million in cash and stock for Cornerstone Community Bancorp, and it expects to close the transaction in the second half of the year.

Financial services providers in the region say they're ready to do their part rebuilding Southern California after a series of devastating fires. For many regional and community banks, initial fire-damage surveys identified limited impact.

The Dallas-based bank's fourth-quarter earnings beat analysts' forecasts. Texas Capital raised its estimate for 2025 adjusted fee income to $270 million.

The Cleveland-based parent company of KeyBank is forecasting net interest income growth of about 20% for 2025, even as it predicts that average loan balances will decline by low-to mid-single digits year-over- year.

The super-regional bank plans to invest in talent, technology and certain locations in 2025, while keeping its expenses in check, to achieve the promise of the merger that created it, CEO Bill Rogers said.

Jane Fraser, CEO of Citigroup, told analysts she's not going to sacrifice growth-related investments for short-term gains. "You shouldn't want me to do that," she said.