Retail & Commercial

Banks can now make loans of less than $1,000 easily and profitably. Increasing their availability would benefit consumers, communities and, most of all, banks themselves.

When a Chicago bank crashed, delivering a major blow to the Deposit Insurance Fund, regulators said they suspected fraud. Historically, that's a common story.

The New York City-based specialty finance company must pay $3 million as part of a settlement with the SEC for allegedly inflating its stock price. Its president must pay a separate $1 million fine.

Some banks hope to use M&A as a way to play defense, either because they need to shore up their deposits or because they have aging CEOs and are looking for an exit. But investors aren't wild about the deal math.

After years of laying the groundwork, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans has converted its credit union into an all-digital bank. Here's a look at the company's strategy.

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.