Retail & Commercial

Dogwood State Bank and Community First Bancorp plan an all-stock deal to create a $2.2 billion bank, technology firm Fiserv announces a partnership with the National Hockey League's New Jersey Devils, former Texas secretary of state will join Cullen/Frost's board and more in our weekly banking news roundup.

Brandon Milhorn, the new CEO of the Conference of State Banking Supervisors, used the platform offered by his first major speech to sound an alarm against one-size-fits-all solutions emanating from Washington. "The pendulum has swung too far in the direction of federal regulatory uniformity," Milhorn argued.

A day after the regional bank's stock tumbled on tough fourth-quarter results and some austerity moves, observers debated whether management just needs time to build enough capital to catch up with growth or if it is still too overexposed in multifamily lending.

With tougher capital requirements looming, a number of regionals including U.S. Bancorp, Huntington and Santander are using these new instruments to share risk with nonbank investors and lighten their capital load. Experts point out the pros and cons.

The embattled bank said it reviewed and then turned down a $3.25-per-share bid from Dream Chasers Capital. Carver called the offer "unrealistically low" given the bank's "intrinsic value."

People should have the option of having their rent and utilities payment history reported to credit bureaus in order to build up their credit history.

Challenger banks, like traditional banks, are under pressure to operate with fewer expenses. Artificial intelligence is part of the answer, and the impact on the workforce may be profound.

The Seattle-based buyer now expects to finalize the deal in February, gaining entrance to California and eclipsing $30 billion of assets. The acquisition had initially been slated to close in mid-2023.

The parent company of Flagstar Bank surprised investors by slashing its dividend, charging off two large real-estate loans and preparing for more trouble in the office and multifamily sectors.

Experts predict the number of small businesses turning to an employee-ownership model will accelerate in the coming years. The would mean opportunities for banks that advise on such transitions.