Retail & Commercial

The case against Yellowstone Capital, which state officials alleged deceived small-business borrowers, has brought attention to the industry.

The Bethesda, Maryland, company projects increases in loans and deposits as its C&I lending strategy gears up. Criticized and past-due loans appear to be declining even with a jump in nonperforming assets.

The Virginia-based bank said the Federal Reserve signed off on its acquisition of Sandy Spring Bancorp in Maryland. The transaction was the third-largest bank deal announced in 2024. It could be finalized as soon as April.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau found that auto lenders' use of reposession agents spiked to nearly 70% in 2022, up from 31% in 2018, resulting in higher costs for consumers.

The auto lender is selling its credit card business and halting new mortgage loans, abandoning its once-broader ambitions. Ally CEO touted the move as "the power of focus."

Mercantile Bank Corp. in Grand Rapids achieved a 20% increase in deposits in 2024, an amount that was ample enough to fund robust loan growth and scale back reliance on costlier wholesale funding.

The New York Department of Financial Services has proposed several changes to overdraft fees including banning banks from charging more than three overdraft or nonsufficient funds fees per consumer per day.

The Dallas-based company expects average loan growth to be flat to up 1% from 2024, driven by the ongoing payoffs of commercial real estate loans, executives said.

Frontwave Credit Union said it would acquire Community Valley Bank in a deal that would expand its footprint in San Diego and nearby counties. It comes on the heels of a record year for CU-bank combinations.

CEO Richard Fairbank told analysts executives have their "microscopes" out for any signs of trouble, but consumers remain "in a great place."