Retail & Commercial

Bankers blamed regulators' new methodologies for rating certain energy loans – and a new two-stage shared national credit review process – for an increase in downgrades and loan-loss provisions. Regulators reportedly are reacting to an increase in second liens tied to exploration and production companies.

The biggest investor in Middleburg Financial plans to withhold support for the company's director nominees.

SAN ANTONIO — Security Service Federal Credit Union's member contact center was named one of the top 100 medium-sized call centers throughout North America for 2016, according to BenchmarkPortal.

Wells Fargo plans to donate more than $665 million in philanthropic giving to meet new corporate social responsibility goals it has set.

Delaware Bancshares in New York thought it was set to grow and diversify after buying six Bank of America branches. Instead, the deal led to the company selling itself.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is expected on May 5 to release a proposal that would allow consumers to ban together in class action lawsuits even if there is an arbitration agreement.

The Coalition to Improve Credit Education, a group that will focus on policy issues involving helping consumers understand how they can improve their credit reports and scores, launched this week with the support of more than 20 community development, financial literacy and minority leadership organizations.

American Banker readers share their views on the most pressing banking topics of the week. Comments are excerpted from reader response sections of AmericanBanker.com articles and our social media platforms.

South State in Columbia, S.C., is planning to close 11 branches over the rest of this year.

Synchrony Financial reported solid earnings growth in the first quarter thanks to increased use of its credit cards, but the firm's credit performance was slightly weaker.