Bank robberies are becoming a thing of the past in cashless Denmark as the Nordic country recorded its first year of zero holdups in 2022.

In this month's roundup of American Banker's favorite stories: a deep-dive into how 2022 accelerated the decline of overdraft fees, Zelle's plan for addressing fraudulent transactions, the National Credit Union Administration opens the doors for fintech and credit union partnerships for lending and more.

Every issue of the magazine provides great features, opinion pieces and more about the issues keeping industry leaders up at night. Here is a look at some of the most exemplary coverage from the past 12 months.

Northeast Bank in Portland is putting capital earned from the Paycheck Protection Program to use, purchasing $1.1 billion of loans and launching a small-dollar Small Business Administration lending program.

Lenders are bracing for possible setbacks in small business, office and hospitality lending. Consumer credit challenges may follow.

Among U.S. financial regulators, Chopra is the one who bankers fear the most. His agency is expected to battle with the financial industry in 2023 on topics ranging from discrimination to fees and the bureau's funding mechanism.

The New Canaan Bank would have been the state's first de novo in more than a decade.

At the start of 2022, banks sat atop a flood of deposits. But as the year progressed, they faced greater pressure to pay higher rates, and the trends that drove the rapid shift show no signs of abating.

The Amesbury-based bank reported solid growth and profitability throughout Dave Mansfield's 9-year tenure. The decision followed news of losses tied to the bank's move into digital-asset lending, though the bank has yet to file a 10-Q for the third quarter.

Despite a slow year overall, banks announced several substantial merger and acquisitions in 2022.

The U.S. should look abroad for innovative solutions to the problem of assessing the creditworthiness of borrowers with little formal credit history.

The $23 million deal, announced more than a year ago, was terminated following regulatory delays.

SNAP recipients need easy and reliable access to their account balances and transaction histories. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ought to clear the way and let that happen.

Amid high inflation and favorable conditions for job-seekers, several banks hiked their starting wages this year. But even as their labor costs rose, they still found it hard to hang onto employees.

The bank hired Thomas Geisel to take over as president and chief executive, effective immediately. He succeeds Harry Madonna, who had been interim leader after the ouster of Vernon Hill.

The National Credit Union Administration must extend a program allowing credit unions to offer long-term loans for residential solar power installations.

The state's Department of Financial Services issued proposed guidelines on how banks and mortgage lenders should manage climate-related risks. But the guidance was quickly slammed by a trade group representing community banks.

The Treasury Department's top official for financial markets and stability expressed little urgency over the federal government's need to prepare for the potential launch of a digital U.S. dollar.

A handful of banks and credit unions with assets under $3 billion each rolled out or expanded its use of distinctive technologies, including a contactless-payment ring.

Rohit Chopra, director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, said the bank is "not making rapid progress" and hinted at the possibility of additional restrictions. But analysts saw positives for Wells in the $3.7 billion consent order.