Banco Popular de Puerto Rico

Bankers have become more uncertain about how to serve marijuana businesses owing to confusion about which states deem them essential.

Banks would be wise to dust off their Great Recession playbook and shed nonperforming loans while growing through M&A.

The takeaway from the PPP rollout is that bankers must protect their reputations and limit their risk appetites as they participate in further government-backed rescue programs.

Periods of significant loan defaults are tough on banks and force unpleasant choices. Here are steps to evaluate collateral in such uncertain times.

An interagency notice meant to encourage lenders to offer small consumer loans also provides federal agencies too much say on what constitutes “reasonable” pricing.

Recent steps that would help nonbank lenders enter the traditional banking system, like a proposal clarifying the industrial loan company charter, are needed but face strong opposition.

Digital banking has ramped up during the coronavirus lockdown but customers will seek somewhere to go as cities reopen. A branch could provide that safe haven.

Financial institutions can improve monitoring of suspicious activity and potentially risky customers using algorithms, but they need to treat this new technology with caution.

The regulatory relief legislation rolls back several stress test requirements for regional and midsize banks, putting more onus on financial institutions and their regulators to ensure banks are managing their risk appropriately.

Paring down branches, product offerings and business lines can help banks succeed.