Retail & Commercial

Investors have grown concerned that 40-year highs in inflation may take a bite out of consumers and lead to credit troubles, but Synchrony executives say consumers are continuing to manage “incredibly well.”

Goldman Sachs Group, Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan Chase and Citigroup each reported a substantially larger workforce in the second quarter compared with a year earlier. Across the six biggest U.S. banks, the average gain in employment was 5.5% compared with mid-2021.

Octane Lending is among the financial companies that have begun adopting software that the startup FairPlay calls "fairness as a service" as regulators scrutinize banks' artificial intelligence-based loan decisions.

Data as of Mar. 31, 2022. Dollars in thousands.

If the agency’s treatment of Bank of America is extended to the rest of the industry, it will cause widespread confusion and excessive regulatory burden.

Net interest income at Bank of America rose 22%, exceeding expectations even in a higher-rate environment. However, net income fell as expenses rose and investment banking revenues fell amid market tumult.

Amplify Credit Union in Austin, Texas, started thinking about removing all banking fees two years ago. First, it had to overhaul its online account-opening process.

The New York megabank has a long way to go on its path toward simplification of its business, but some early investments — such as technology upgrades in the treasury unit, which serves commercial customers — are starting to pay small dividends.

Like other mortgage lenders, the San Francisco megabank has been cutting staff since refinancing volumes started to fall. Additional layoffs are expected over the next couple of quarters, according to the bank’s chief financial officer.

Some scrutinize quarterly reports for details that can help better compete against banks. Others are motivated by schadenfreude.