Shareholder Communications

After the failures of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank, other institutions rushed to reassure their customers. But it can be tricky to ensure these messages do no harm.

Online and hybrid gatherings last year left shareholders demanding that companies make it easier to join the meetings, ask questions and vote this time around.

The company, backed by eight major players including JPMorgan Chase and State Street, lets investors vote virtually on corporate matters — a service that has grown more popular during the coronavirus pandemic.

There were few fireworks at Wells Fargo’s first annual meeting under new CEO Charlie Scharf; billionaire investor and entrepreneur Mark Cuban pitches Fed-backed overdraft protection; as hotels sit empty, loan delinquencies pile up; and more from this week’s most-read stories.

The bill, which President Trump is expected to sign Friday, includes $310 billion more funding; the four largest U.S. banks took in $590 billion of the $1 trillion banks attracted.

"One of the advantages is that we can hear from shareholders in faraway places," John Dugan said at Tuesday's annual meeting, which was held entirely online as most of the country remains on lockdown to help stop the spread of the coronavirus.

Broadway Financial prefers a small balance sheet and loans to real estate investors that offer affordable housing. Capital Corps and its founder, Steven Sugarman, want the bank to expand by making more loans directly to low- and moderate-income borrowers.

Blue Lion Capital said Johnny Guerry, who has sparred with other community banks, will assist in efforts to pressure the Seattle bank to improve its performance or sell itself.

Driver Management said it would also support National Bankshares if it decided to sell itself.