The Latest

The Federal Reserve Board on Friday approved UMB Financial's pending $2 billion acquisition of Heartland Financial.

Honorees from American Banker's Most Influential Women in Payments discuss spotting tangible uses for innovation, rather than buying into hype.

The action rids the Montana bank of a $62.8 million loan that's long been on its watch list. It comes as First Interstate's new CEO looks to put his own stamp on the bank.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued separate policy statements on "sandbox approvals" and no-action letters for fintechs — measures whose longevity is questionable with the incoming Trump administration.

Texas Capital Bancshares promotes Aimee Williams-Ramey to chief human resources officer; M&T Bank hires Wells Fargo veteran Krista Phillips for newly created post of chief customer officer; Paul Connolly and Paul Speiss age out of their positions on Eastern Bankshares' board; and more in this week's banking news roundup.

In a speech outlining his priorities for the FDIC, Vice Chair Travis Hill stressed the need for a more flexible regulatory approach, addressing capital requirements, digital assets, climate policy, and bank oversight, while emphasizing transparency and timely action.

Clearfield-based CNB Financial's planned acquisition of ESSA Bancorp in Stroudsburg would create an $8 billion-asset company with 49 branches and nearly $5 billion of deposits in the Keystone State.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued an interpretive rule and a separate request for information aimed at Big Tech companies, digital payments and crypto assets.

An alarming percentage of cyberattacks in 2024 exposed eight or more pieces of sensitive customer information, a notable increase in severity. Banks need to have both proactive and reactive strategies in place to protect customers.

The Labor Department estimates the economy added 256,000 jobs in December, indicating a resilient economy and labor market. For the Federal Reserve, which was already signaling a slowdown in rate cuts, the reading could justify holding rates steady.