Finance

Weak loan demand, persistently low yields and the continued struggles of sectors such as hospitality and retail are among the myriad lending challenges facing small regional banks.

The Dallas bank has begun encouraging larger borrowers to seek forgiveness of Paycheck Protection Program loans first as it holds out for the government to streamline the process for loans below $150,000.

The new policy will allow the company to close some work sites and reduce the size of others. It’s part of a broader effort to cut expenses to help offset revenue declines brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.

Mexican payments startup Klar has raised $15 million in a Series A round in an effort to challenge traditional banks by expanding access to debit cards and credit lines.

Both the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and the American Bankers Association are encouraging the industry to offer basic products that could bring more unbanked households into the financial mainstream.

The company will close eight locations, noting that customers have been quick to adopt digital channels during the coronavirus pandemic.

Southern Bancorp in Arkansas, which raised $35 million in capital from private investors, is out to prove that community development financial institutions can deliver attractive returns and fulfill their missions to help the underserved.

Visa on Monday made an investment in Global Processing Services, which powers the payment rails for several challenger banks and fintechs. It's similar to a January investment Mastercard made in Marqeta, an open API card issuing and processing platform.

In an exclusive interview announcing the regulator's new financial inclusion program, NCUA Chairman Rodney Hood explains why the time was right to double down on the agency's efforts to expand access for marginalized communities.

Strong mortgage and capital markets activity helped offset credit costs and one-time items in the third quarter at Citizens Financial Group. In a period of low rates, CEO Bruce Van Saun says he’d like to buy more fee-generating businesses.

The family-owned bank from the South and the New York commercial lender each would fill a clear need for the other. First Citizens would gain business lending expertise and an online deposit-gathering platform, and CIT would get the cheap deposits it coveted.

The credit union regulator has held back in allowing the use of derivatives but has released a proposal that would remove red tape for some larger institutions.

The North Carolina company had promised regulators not to close large numbers of branches until December. Meanwhile, vendor contracts, leases and other hurdles have made it hard to accelerate efforts to offset a sudden decline in revenue.

The Illinois company will shutter 17 locations, or about 15% of its branches, early next year.

Defaults have been milder than expected thanks to government relief and stricter underwriting. But with the crisis dragging on and policymakers unable to agree on a stimulus plan, loans to highly indebted companies remain at risk.

CEO Charlie Scharf disappointed investors by failing to provide either a detailed road map for long-term expense reductions or say when he might release such a plan.

The New York bank, which is conducting a search for its next leader, also said it expects to report strong third-quarter earnings.

Spending is up and deferrals are down sharply, signaling that the economy has turned a corner, CEO Brian Moynihan said. The outlook stood in stark contrast to JPMorgan Chase, which set aside more funds to address potential exposure in consumer banking.

Regulators in the spring temporarily eased a key benchmark of balance-sheet strength to allow institutions to help customers navigate the pandemic, but Federal Reserve Vice Chairman Randal Quarles said it would be “premature” right now to suspend it for good.

The Minneapolis company says the majority of branches earmarked for closing have already been shuttered for months due to the pandemic. Some of the savings will be plowed back into digital expansion.