Peapack-Gladstone Financial CEO Doug Kennedy is betting that giving his workforce the same hospitality training hotel employees receive will lead to better customer service and a healthier bottom line.

The quest to make instant settlement ubiquitous in all countries requires scale and connectivity, creating opportunities for intermediaries that can handle the last mile.

Since 2011, and in ever-growing volume, credit unions have been buying community banks. Some see it as the free market at work while bankers say this is another example of credit unions' unfair advantage.

In a sudden shift, Merrill's leader of the past six years is heading back to rival Citi, where he will be head of global wealth and drive its expansion.

The rules President Joe Biden calls for include minimizing the financial burden that replenishing the Deposit Insurance Fund would impose on community banks.

The regulation — mandated more than a decade ago to combat discrimination — will make lenders provide data on approvals and denials of small-business loan applications, the cost of credit and demographics of borrowers.