U.S. Bancorp and Truist picked literal names for their virtual assistants to avoid confusing customers, while Fifth Third and Regions created characters called "Jeanie" and "Reggie" to put clients at ease. Other companies are trying to split the difference.

The wealth and asset management team, led by Kristine Garrett, saw a 34% year-over-year boost in total revenue for its business line, up to $626.6  million.  

The regional bank started making moves to protect deposits last year, which prevented steeper declines during a volatile first quarter, CEO Tim Spence says.

The regional bank's play for a piece of the wealth management pie, under wraps for more than a year, has a unique twist.

At the end of 2020, when Melissa Stevens began running both digital and marketing for Fifth Third Bank, fewer than 10% of new customer checking accounts came through the digital channel. Now the bank is on track to end 2022 with more than 25% of sales originating online or on mobile. 

Education in financial literacy instills both know-how and confidence, knowledge most teens lack when transitioning into adulthood.

The Cincinnati bank used to rely on surveys to gauge how satisfied customers were after speaking to a contact center agent. Technology has made the task easier and more comprehensive, and spotlighted common issues that triggered a high volume of calls.

Consumers welcome more generous forgiveness policies and the chance to have past defaults erased from their record, but they need assistance connecting the dots, financial services executives say.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau sent a mass email to thousands of the bank's customers and former employees to gather information about the possible creation of phony accounts. Critics — including a federal judge — say the CFPB asked leading questions and may have overstepped its bounds.

As Mastercard Installments nears launch, the card network is lining up tech partners to connect issuers to its buy now/pay later ecosystem.

January was a quiet month for traditional bank mergers and acquisitions, but some big-name firms still struck big deals. Here's a look back at the month's most noteworthy deals.

A few months ago bankers were more hopeful than confident about an end to depressed demand for business credit. Now CEOs at Huntington, Fifth Third, Mercantile Bank and other companies are touting strong fourth-quarter loan growth, burgeoning pipelines and local job creation as reasons for optimism.

The deal is the latest example of a mainstream bank buying a point-of-sale lender focused on financing home improvement projects.

The retail consolidation in Midwestern markets will also support the bank’s branch expansion in Atlanta, Charlotte and other fast-growing cities across the Southeast.

The fintech specializes in lending to dentists, veterinarians and other solo providers looking to grow or establish their own practice.

The Cincinnati company's new Momentum checking and savings will give customers extra time to avoid overdraft fees, quicker access to paychecks and the option for advances on future direct deposits.

The Ohio company has opened just 32 of 120 new branches it plans in the region by 2022, but those offices are making a sizable contribution to growth.

Greg Carmichael said lightly regulated challenger banks pose a long-term threat to traditional banks, echoing comments JPMorgan Chase’s Jamie Dimon made last week.

Fifth Third is partnering with Provide and Panacea Financial works with Sonabank in Virginia to meet the specialized needs of medical professionals who own their own practices.

The Cincinnati bank joins a growing list of banks pledging billions of dollars to fight systemic racism and help close the wealth gap that exists between white and minority households.