Data Sets

After an active 2015, with nearly 290 deals announced, don't think for a second that bankers are taking a breather. Executives are looking at ways to build scale, improve their fintech offerings and ensure smooth transitions following acquisitions. Here is a sampling of recent comments about bank consolidation.

The continued development of blockchain technologies by banks and other commercial organizations for potential non-bitcoin uses has opened an intense public discussion. On BankThink and social media sites, techies and finance pros are debating whether financial intermediaries can and even should harness an innovation that was designed for a decentralized, trustless digital currency. Here is a sample of the debate.

This year's honorees, selected by the editors of PaymentsSource, are responsible for businesses and innovations as diverse as the payments industry itself. They are technologists, entrepreneurs, leaders and influencers throughout the worlds of banking and payments.

The banking industry is grappling with a quickly changing technology environment, and that is particularly true for community banks given their fewer resources. Still, several are looking for ways to provide their customers with cutting-edge digital products, overhauling their antiquated systems and using technology to strip out costs and find better uses for their tech teams. The following are ten examples of community banks that have made technology a priority.

A Minnesota CU executive earns nod from local news outlet and other credit union professionals in the news.

As increasing numbers of employers turn to high-deductible health plans that are tied to health savings accounts, and due to the high-transactional nature of the account, that’s good news for CUs, according to Kevin Boyles of Ascensus.

American Banker readers share their views on the most pressing banking topics of the week. Comments are excerpted from reader response sections of AmericanBanker.com articles and our social media platforms.

Two credit unions invest in business lending talent and more CU professionals in the news.

Presidential candidates are known for getting a few facts wrong on the campaign trail. When it comes to offering commentary on banking, this election cycle has seen a fair share of whoppers. Following are a collection of incorrect things asserted by candidates during the 2016 race.

Activist investors thrive when the banking industry is in consolidation mode. Last year, overall M&A started to gain momentum, and several deals involved banks that had been pressured by large, vocal shareholders. The following is a list of deals where sellers had their hands forced by dissident investors.

The rush to be a "one stop shop" for merchants by bundling mobile, Web and in-store payment technology is prompting many companies to join forces, resulting in several high-priced mergers and acquisitions in recent years.

American Banker readers share their views on the most pressing banking topics of the week. Comments are excerpted from reader response sections of AmericanBanker.com articles and our social media platforms.

Former CU CEO moves to vendor, Charter Oak president elected to chair regional board and more.

Bank consolidation is gaining traction in several Midwestern states, including Ohio, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin. Here are some of the more notable deals announced in the last year.

Bank executives have faced relentless questions about their energy-sector exposure during fourth-quarter earnings calls this month, as oil has bobbed above and below $30 a barrel. They are taking more drastic actions to contain losses, but it still might not be enough.

Social media is an excellent channel for credit unions to utilize to engage with their members. If it’s promoted well, offers thought-provoking content, and doesn’t oversell products and services, social media can make a lasting impact on the success of your credit union. Krista Boyum, social media coordinator at MEMBERS Development Company shares five strategies for making the most of this important channel.

Two chief executives win accolades while three officers are promoted to the C Suite and other CU professionals in the news.

Calls with analysts to discuss the fourth-quarter results were dominated by questions about energy exposure, efficiency and the growing worry about when the next credit cycle may begin. Still, some banks managed to get in a few thoughts about how technology is reshaping their businesses.

The future of retail isn't happening behind the counter; it's happening in the aisles, on mobile phones and at a much faster pace than even the Internet can accommodate. And all of these ideas were the subject of excitement and debate at the National Retail Federation's conference in New York.

American Banker readers share their views on the most pressing banking topics of the week. Comments are excerpted from reader response sections of AmericanBanker.com articles and our social media platforms.