Americans are looking for immediate ways to offset rising costs, rather than saving points for future travel. Cash rewards, which were already growing in popularity, are now even more coveted.

Lincoln Parks at Heritage Bank in Georgia built from scratch its social media following, a digital-only way to open accounts and (in 48 hours) a Paycheck Protection Program lending system. For these and other efforts, Parks is a runner-up for American Banker’s Digital Banker of the Year.

Now that dispersed workforces are expected to be the long-term norm, banks are taking steps to maintain a sense of teamwork and giving managers new training in troubleshooting.

The data aggregator assembled a group of technology companies that has developed a set of security standards for startups. It is open for comment ahead of an anticipated implementation in the second half of next year.

Advocates negotiating with the Minneapolis bank also want commitments for mortgage assistance and payouts to financial nonprofits. The pressure for Federal Reserve hearings coincides with Biden administration calls for more scrutiny of big bank mergers.

Patriot National Bancorp was exploring a digital pivot, and American Challenger Development Corp. had been seeking a bank charter in its quest to become open an all-digital bank. They decided it was quicker to join forces.