Growth strategies

Many credit unions offer youth accounts to help establish early banking relationships, but a new account for kids from the nation’s largest bank has raised the level of competition.

The combined institution will serve almost 75,000 members with nearly $660 million in assets.

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.

The deal is intended to better help credit unions and other financial institutions improve digital lending capabilities

The Southern California-based credit union would add a fourth branch in the Cowboy State if members of the merging credit union approve the deal.

Duncan-Williams, which serves institutional clients, will help South State expand its correspondent lending operations.

The California-based institution joins a small group of CUs that represent only about 7% of institutions but hold about 70% of industry assets.

The South Carolina company has agreed to buy the parent of Security Federal Bank.

The deal is expected to close sometime next year but is still subject to regulatory and member approval.

Many consumers are taking to the highways and the water for safe getaways during the pandemic — powering one of the few bright spots in lending. However, bankers warn that boomlets usually come with distinctive credit risks.