Nine of 18 insurers that distribute variable annuities through financial advisers affiliated with Raymond James Financial Inc. have begun offering less expensive variable products, the St. Petersburg, Fla., brokerage announced.
Raymond James said Monday that it had offered to take a reduced commission in order to let its insurance partners reduce client costs. It said it expects a short-term revenue reduction but improved client retention.
For the Denver-based parent company of Sunflower Bank, the first quarter of 2026 was not entirely sunny. Loans grew dramatically, but so did charge-offs, with the lender charging off two credits worth more than $10 million.
The investment firm's Alternatives division comprised a majority of the online lender's $60 million Series C funding round.
While stablecoins aren't widely used for payments, banks still have a role to play in leading the market.
Celtic Bank is the latest large Small Business Administration lender to turn to an AI origination platform for smaller-dollar loans. Live Oak Bank, which has been piloting the same platform, says it's poised for big growth in the same segment.
The Federal Open Market Committee's April meeting — likely Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's last — is unanimously expected to keep interest rates steady, but questions about energy, inflation and the upcoming transition in leadership still loom.
There's been an onslaught of nonbank financial technology company charter applications and approvals already this year.
