Corporate governance

Recent high-profile ethics violations by senior Federal Reserve officials, including new revelations concerning stock trades by former Fed Gov. Adriana Kugler, have sparked debate over the effectiveness of the central bank's oversight, even as some observers stress such cases remain rare.

Chris Ward of TD Bank and American Banker reporter Allissa Kline talk about challenges and opportunities in banking small businesses.

A recent $450 million loan is par for the course at Beal Bank USA, which has developed a reputation for seeking out nine-figure loans backed by tangible property.

Central Bancompany said in a presentation to investors this month that it's looking to overhaul its core technology and data systems, while also hunting for a deal.

Barwick Banking Co. will have the wherewithal to accelerate its expansion in Georgia and Florida after a $50 million investment from a new venture capital platform.

The Tacoma, Washington-based bank, which has completed two mergers since 2023, said Thursday that it will buy back up to $700 million of its own shares over the next year.

The Billings, Montana-based bank finds itself in the crosshairs of a high-profile activist investor. On Thursday, it stuck to its organic growth plan and said it isn't interested in using its excess capital to restructure its securities book.

FirstSun Capital Bancorp plans to buy First Foundation in an effort to accelerate its Southern California growth. The $785 million transaction follows FirstSun's failed takeover of Seattle-based HomeStreet.

A national bank charter will help UBS Bank USA to expand offerings for wealth management clients, according a company memo.

Huntington's $7.4 billion acquisition of Cadence would give the Ohio-based bank a top-five market share in both Dallas and Houston. It comes just a week after Huntington closed its last Texas acquisition.

Nicolet Bankshares has agreed to buy MidWestOne Financial in an $864 million, all-stock deal. The acquisition will move the Wisconsin-based buyer into Iowa and the Twin Cities, while also allowing it to vault past a key regulatory threshold.

The Long Island-based bank hasn't been profitable in eight quarters, but executives maintain that it's on the right path, citing more loan book diversity, lower expenses and an improved margin.

The Dallas-based regional bank's return on average assets exceeded its goal of 1.1% for the first time, coming in at 1.3% for the third quarter. The bank has been in transformation mode since 2021.

Fraser will succeed John Dugan, who's been Citi's chair for six years. The megabank also granted Fraser a one-time award of $25 million in restricted stock units, and more than 1 million stock options.

Farmers National Banc Corp. in Ohio plans to acquire in-state rival Middlefield Banc Corp. in a deal that will deepen the buyer's footprint in Columbus.

Five years after the government struggled to disburse pandemic relief checks, the Fed is using improved processing for emergency funds as a reason for banks to get onboard with FedNow.

Spring Bank CEO Barry Mann has accumulated a 6% stake in New York City-based Carver Bancorp. Carver has a history of underperforming, but Mann is optimistic about its chances under new CEO Donald Felix.

The Canadian bank plans to sell the branches, which are mostly in the Midwest and Great Plains, to First Citizens Bank in North Carolina. At the same time, it plans to build 150 branches over the next five years in markets with longer-term growth prospects.

PNC CEO Bill Demchak said Wednesday that regulatory processes and enforcement actions take up half of the time that the company's board spends together. Those rules are on deck for a makeover.

The megabank's multiyear effort to simplify its business model and improve its risk management is starting to pay off in the form of more consistent profitability and improved returns, CEO Jane Fraser told analysts.