The Latest

First Midwest Bancorp in Itasca, Ill., has named new heads of treasury management and private banking.

SEATTLE — If you don't know the meaning of the word "verity," that may change soon, thanks to a campaign from Verity CU here that uses local bands and artists to boost brand awareness at the $454 million credit union.

Facebook's new Instant Article service for publications underscores the competitive threat that the site's business model poses to banks. There's one particular feature that should have banks worried: because Facebook's primary interest is ad income, product pricing is of secondary importance.

The latest promotions, new hires and appointments from Tropical, Landmark, New Orleans Firemen's and more.

It's certainly true that as customers conduct fewer basic transactions in branches, those branches will see reduced foot traffic. But branches will remain relevant so long as they have helpful and intelligent people determined to help customers manage their finances.

Liberty Bank in Middletown, Conn., has agreed to buy Naugatuck Valley Financial in Naugatuck, Conn.

JPMorgan Wins Round Versus FDIC in WaMu Battle; MasterCard Enters Somalia

Bank marketing was once largely a function of architecture. More than anything else, customers were looking for safety and solidity and banks sought to convey those concepts through their buildings. Today, with branch traffic steadily declining, bank marketing is reinventing itself as chief marketing officers — a relatively new title in the industry — face unprecedented challenges and opportunities.

General Electric has put virtually all of its U.S. commercial loan businesses on the market after hiring banks to unload $20 billion of assets in its health-care, railcar and franchise finance divisions, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

JPMorgan Chase won the latest round in its long-running dispute with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. after a judge ruled the bank doesn't have to shoulder certain liabilities tied to its 2008 takeover of Washington Mutual's banking operations.