Growth strategies

The nation's largest bank has already completed many of the branch closings that can boost its earnings, leaving it with "less and less accretive opportunities to consolidate," according to a top executive.

Bank failures last spring forced many startup businesses to shift where they store their cash. JPMorgan Chase appears to be the top beneficiary, but other banks say they are just as eager to reel in deposits and do more business with the innovation economy.

The deal for SimplyBank, scheduled to be completed in the second quarter, would give First Financial in Terre Haute, Indiana, additional branches in Tennessee and its first presence in Georgia.

The San Antonio bank reported a 14% increase in noninterest expenses and a 7% jump in loans. "We're not trying to be successful by shrinking," said CEO Phil Green.

The Dallas company, which is in the midst of a four-year business overhaul, is facing a margin squeeze in the coming quarters. But even as analysts express skepticism, company executives aren't budging from the profitability goals they set two years ago.

The consulting giant's annual global banking review highlights a stark trend: Over a seven-year period, more than 70% of the net increase in financial assets ended up not on U.S. banks' balance sheets, but instead at insurance and pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, in private capital markets and elsewhere.

Peoples Financial Services has agreed to pay $129 million of stock for FNCB Bancorp. Peoples' CEO Craig Best would lead the combined company for a year after the merger closes, and then Gerard Champi, FNCB's current chief, would take over.

As part of the changes, the Spanish bank is combining individual countries' retail and commercial banking businesses under a new global unit, which will be headed by Daniel Barriuso, and creating a new digital consumer bank area that will be led by Jose Luis de Mora.

Instead, the Canadian bank will try to ramp up its current strategy, which includes growth in commercial lending and technology upgrades, as well as streamline management. 

After taking incremental steps to bolster its wealth management business, the Rhode Island bank is preparing to roll out a broader strategy focused on high-net-worth clients.

Chief Executive Rob Holmes, who launched an attempted turnaround shortly after taking the reins of the Dallas-based bank in 2021, is resisting the lure of share buybacks. Some investors may be growing impatient, but Holmes says the investments he's made are starting to pay off.

Consistent wins aren't typically about continuously introducing novel strategies, but about better and more consistent execution with proven ones.

JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo and TD Auto Finance all see opportunities in providing financing to dealers for inventory, the purchase of competitors and the addition of infrastructure for electric vehicle sales. Two other banks recently said they're exiting the business, which could provide a further opening.

Big Poppy Bancorp has applied to the Federal Reserve to acquire up to 24.99% of Summit State Bank. Both institutions are headquartered in Santa Rosa. Combining them would create the city's biggest bank.

Citizens made waves with its hires of around 50 private banking staff from First Republic. The head of wealth management at Citizens shared what's next.

The San Antonio bank says it will open 17 new financial centers in the Austin region by 2026. It's the latest step in a physical expansion strategy that has led to dozens of new branches in Houston and Dallas.

CCFNB Bancorp and Muncy Bank Financial, which said they were combining forces in April, have opted for a bigger rebrand.

Bank of America says it will extend its branch footprint to Omaha, Dayton and Huntsville. The moves are part of an ongoing strategy to enter new markets even as the bank reduces its total branch count.

Bank of America is also planning to expand into Madison, Wisconsin; Boise, Idaho; and Birmingham, Alabama, a company executive said. The goal is to find growth opportunities that don't require operating a large number of branches, the executive indicated.

The Tennessee-based bank was supposed to be acquired this year, but the merger fell apart a month ago. Now executives say that employees are energized as they reengage with clients who are relieved that they won't be switched away from First Horizon's systems.