NEW YORK – New data released by the Conference Board finds that for the second month in a row consumer confidence has improved.
The research firm’s overall confidence index increased 9.3 points to 64.5, following a 14.3-point rise in November. Those numbers are in line with consumer confidence levels last seen in spring 2011.
The Conference Board said the improvement was the biggest two-month increase since March 1991.
Amerant Bancorp in Coral Gables, Florida, appointed Carlos Iafigliola its permanent president and CEO; Morton Community Bank in Illinois reached a deal to buy a three-branch franchise in the Land of Lincoln; Bank First in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, agreed to acquire PSB Holdings; and more in this week's banking news roundup.
President Donald Trump administered Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh's oath of office in a ceremony Friday morning. Warsh is expected to pursue changes at the central bank, including a push to reduce its $6.7 billion balance sheet.
Federal Reserve Gov. Christopher Waller said in a speech Friday that he favors holding interest rates steady until energy prices fall, but noted that the central bank should be ready to hike rates if inflation gets too far out of hand.
Cetin Duransoy said every employee at his company is now using AI in some way.
Many banks are missing revenue and cost-cutting opportunities—and potentially disenfranchising customers by not offering relevant app details.
Lenders pulled back on commercial real estate loans in 2023, as high interest rates put pressure on property values. They're now returning to the sector, and the renewed competition is prompting a pricing war.
