Retail & Commercial

NB Bancorp's deal for Provident Bancorp is the fourth announced in the Bay State since December. It comes nearly three years after bad crypto mining loans led to massive losses at Provident.

Bethany Corum succeeds Tom Barron as president of Capital City Bank; Independent Bank Corp. plans to finalize purchase of in-state rival, Enterprise Bancorp; Customers Bank taps Mark McCollom to take over as chief financial officer; and more in this week's banking news roundup.

Main Street Financial's ouster of James VanSickle came three months after its chairman characterized the company's financial performance as being "on the upswing."

The Toronto-based bank said that Aron Levine will become group head and president of BMO U.S. It also announced the upcoming retirement of Ernie Johannson, head of North American personal and business banking.

Even with the four basis-point drop, the 30-year fixed rate mortgage remained at levels last seen in February as the Spring homebuying season reaches its climax.

Banks that are financing the rise of nonbank competitors have been losing market share in commercial lending. But by getting in on the action, the same banks are also seeing some payoff.

Freedom Bank is rolling out Freedom@Work, which offers perks for employees of participating companies, as part of a wider strategy to attract more consumer deposits.

Marianne Lake will oversee strategic growth and the company's fast-growing overseas consumer bank. 

Oxford Bank appears poised to reap benefits from a substantial investment in building out its commercial finance subsidiary. The business, which provides credit to companies that aren't a good fit for bank loans, has moved into the banking mainstream over the last 15 years.

The probability of a trade war-induced recession is unclear and fluctuates almost daily. However, the possibility is real enough that banks have a responsibility to prepare for a serious economic downturn on par with the 2008 financial crisis.