Retail & Commercial

With South Florida's economy expected to continue outperforming the rest of the nation, Banesco USA is laying plans to extend its reach into Broward, the wealthy and populous county just north of its Coral Gables home base.

The proposed sale of Territorial Bancorp faced competing offers that delayed its closing by several months. But Hope ultimately won shareholder and regulatory approvals.

Lawmakers have a short window of time in which they can use the Congressional Review Act to nullify the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's misguided rule striking medical debt from credit reports.

Offices, apartment buildings and retail locations in Los Angeles face a tangle of difficulties as the smoke clears from January's wildfires. High on the list is inadequate insurance, a common problem in California.

"I can't just go fishing in the ocean," said Grasshopper Bank CEO Michael Butler, referring to his bank's ability to gather deposits. "JPMorgan Chase is out there with a yacht, and I'm driving a small speedboat."

Holly O'Neill, who was No. 5 on American Banker's list of the Most Powerful Women in Banking last year, will oversee a new department combining BofA's retail and preferred units. Aron Levine, who previously led preferred banking, is leaving the company.

This transaction, following Rocket's purchase of Redfin, could be the start of the creation of large players to compete with the likes of Zillow.

Terry Dolan, vice chair and chief administration officer at the Minnesota bank, had been at the company for more than 25 years.

The $381 million deal for Alabama-based Southern States Bancshares would give FB entree to the sprawling Atlanta market. CEO Christopher Holmes said the bank would likely focus on nearby suburban communities initially.

Small lenders across the country, including Forte Bank in Wisconsin, promoted and recruited chief executives in recent weeks.