The Latest

The e-commerce giant is adding a surcharge for Visa credit card payments in Singapore. It's a tactic reminiscent of the time its big-box rival outright banned the card brand in Thunder Bay, Ontario, in a bid to lower its costs.

Upgrade, a lending startup that counts former LendingClub executive Renaud Laplanche as a co-founder, raised $105 million in a funding round that values the company at more than $3.3 billion.

Small increases in commercial real estate loan volumes, particularly at midsize banks, may be indicators that the sector has weathered the worst of the pandemic. Construction loan originations, which tend to fall sharply during a recession, are leading the way.

Despite clear evidence to the contrary, the mortgage insurer continues to insist that credit unions have the same risk profile as nonbank lenders. It’s now threatening to exclude nearly a quarter of credit unions from being qualified issuers of the securities it backs.

The Boston-based cryptocurrency firm says it would welcome the tough oversight that comes with being a bank. Yet Biden-era regulators have shown apprehension about granting approvals to digital-asset firms.

The acquisition of Florida-based Service Finance Co. would expand the North Carolina bank’s presence in the point-of-sale lending business.

The $119 million-asset Ergo Bank in Wisconsin, which is working with the fintech Neocova, says artificial intelligence and modern data management are attainable for even the smallest financial institutions — and essential to competing with larger banks for consumers.

Tom Young is stepping down as president and CEO of the Green Bay, Wisconsin, credit union. His successor has not yet been named.

Abbott Cooper, the head of Driver Management, says Codorus Valley Bancorp is not as profitable as its peers. Cooper, who has successfully forced the sale of at least two other banks, has indicated he's ready to launch a proxy fight.

The combination of American Express and its fintech subsidiary Kabbage is starting to bear fruit at an opportune time, as credit card companies increasingly expand their range of products to boost revenue.