The new product will help Barclays' U.S. bank reach customers who may not want — or qualify for — its cobranded cards. It's part of a strategy to reach more consumers after card balances declined last year.

The business lobby has been uncharacteristically critical of some key White House picks like Sarah Bloom Raskin for Fed governor, a sign that banking policy is seen as having a more direct economic impact than in the past.

The transfers are among the fastest and least expensive in the region. The quicker service will please users but the fintech faces a challenge in trying to differentiate itself from rivals, analysts said.

Carol Minges, who joined the St. Louis institution in 2008, will step down as chief executive on April 1.

Executives said record-high commercial loan commitments in the fourth quarter validate the San Antonio bank’s decision to open more than two dozen branches in Houston and pursue a similar path in Dallas.

The credit card issuer fielded questions about its fees two days after the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau announced a wide-ranging review of consumer charges. Executives said they would not take a big revenue hit even in the face of new limits.