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Banks typically prefer to steer clear of politics. But in 2025, politics would not steer clear of banks

Mercantile's pending acquisition of Eastern Michigan is approved by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago; the National Community Reinvestment Coalition and Rise Economy announce a $2.5 billion addendum to Columbia Bank's community benefits agreement following its acquisition of Pacific Premier Bank; the Federal Reserve Board and CFPB raise the thresholds for certain credit and lease transactions; and more in this week's banking news roundup.

Here are the 10 stories our readers paid the most attention to in a year of political, economic and technological change.

Rohit Chopra is named senior advisor to the Democratic Attorneys General Association's working group on consumer protection and affordability; Flagstar Bank adds additional wealth-planning capabilities to its private banking division; Chime promotes three members of its executive leadership team; and more in this week's banking news roundup.

JPMorgan's Ben Carpenter will join Evercore as a senior managing director; Wells Fargo appoints Jackie Krese to head syndications within its fund finance group; the SEC is probing Jefferies over its relationship to bankrupt auto parts supplier First Brands Group; and more in this week's banking news roundup.

Chris Shelper is now the sole chief banking officer at First Interstate BancSystem; Kristy Fercho joins LERETA's board of directors; Truist Financial launches a business focused on private equity and family office transactions; and more in this week's banking news roundup.

MetroCity Bankshares in Doraville, Georgia, plans to finalize its acquisition of First IC Corp; Rockefeller Capital Management's Brian D. Riley will join BNY Wealth as global head; Blackstone appoints former Morgan Stanley rainmaker Franck Petitgas to a top role in Europe; and more in this week's banking news roundup.

HoldCo Asset Management drops its pursuit of proxy battles with Columbia Banking System and First Interstate; Cape Cod's Mutual Bancorp prepares to acquire Bluestone Bank; Servbank HoldCo announces plans to acquire IF Bancorp; and more in this week's banking news roundup.

New York State's former top regulator Adrienne A. Harris has rejoined Sullivan & Cromwell as of counsel and senior policy advisor; Founders Bank appointed Karen Grau to its board of directors; Deutsche Bank's DWS Group is opening an office in Abu Dhabi; and more in this week's banking news roundup.

The 23rd annual dinner honored bankers and finance leaders at the top of the industry.

Needham and Provident banks received all regulatory approvals and merge date; JPMorganChase hired veteran tech dealmaker Kevin Brunner from Bank of America; RBC Capital Markets will expand its presence in the equity derivatives market with two senior hires from UBS; and more in this week's banking news roundup.

Flagstar shareholders approved a plan to merge its holding company into the bank; Huntington tapped a new chief auditor, along with two new business leaders; First Foundation hired a new chief credit officer; and more in this week's banking news roundup.

Former City National CEO Kelly Coffey has a new venture in wealth management; Erin Siegfried is Northwest Bancshares' new chief legal counsel and corporate secretary; Flagstar Bank secures OCC approval to merge its holding company into the bank; and more in this week's banking news roundup.

The 23rd annual ranking of women leaders in the banking industry.

The Consumer Bankers Association elected Atlantic Union Bank's Maria Tedesco as its 2025 board chair; Banco Santander's Steffen Doyle is leaving the firm; Commerzbank's lawyers allege an ex-analyst made up sexual harassment claims against a colleague after he lost his job; and more in this week's banking news roundup.

Our annual list of the 25 top leaders in finance include three newcomers this year.

S&T Bancorp is shuffling its board structure as Chairwoman Christine Toretti plans her departure; Philip Bohi is named general counsel of the American Financial Services Association; Coastal Community Bank appoints Brandon Soto as its new chief financial officer; and more in this week's banking news roundup.

Our annual ranking of women in banking and finance includes five community bank CEOs.

Comerica announced the promotion of Kristina Janssens to be its next chief risk office; Washington Trust hired James "Jim" Brown, an executive from Berkshire Bank, as its chief commercial banking officer; Citizens Financial pledged $20 million to support workforce development programs; and more in this week's banking news roundup.

Each year, American Banker chooses five teams that embody the spirit of collaboration and illustrate how teamwork can have a substantial impact on a bank's top and bottom lines.