Synovus Financial

President and Chief Operating Officer Kevin Blair will take the helm in April at the company’s annual meeting while Kessel Stelling will transition to a new role as executive chairman.

The Georgia lender has hired bankers away from Wells Fargo to build a new ag lending team that will look to capitalize on soaring lumber demand in its home state.

Many eateries that relied on outdoor dining to survive the pandemic could see revenues plummet as the weather turns cold.

Banks have managed to steer around trouble spots in energy, hotel and mall-related credits. But fears of further deterioration, an eviction wave or more job losses are keeping lenders circumspect.

A federal judge in Florida ruled that lenders are not required to make payments to borrowers' attorneys and accountants unless they struck upfront agreements to do so. The decision has implications for a slew of related lawsuits.

The Georgia company warned that outstanding loans could fall and deferrals will likely rise as its home state and Florida grapple with the pandemic.

Accountants, as well as lawyers and consultants, who helped small businesses apply for emergency relief funds through the Paycheck Protection Program want to be compensated. Are they entitled to be?

Often overlooked in narratives about essential workers, branch and call-center employees are responding to challenges posed by the COVID-19 crisis. They’ve processed emergency-relief loans late into the night, coached customers unfamiliar with mobile banking and made house calls to elderly account holders.

The Georgia bank could rely more on drive-through-only branches, trim office space and reassess staffing levels after the coronavirus crisis, according to Kessel Stelling.

The Fed’s decision to cut its benchmark interest rate amid growing coronavirus concerns is bound to have an impact on banks, but just how broad and how deep remains to be seen.