Banking

It sounds like a bad idea to seat customers in front of a screen to open accounts or get other higher-level services from remote banking officers, but BluCurrent Credit Union in Springfield, Mo., turned to video banking to cure its branch traffic woes and its members seem to like it.

United Community Financial in Youngstown, Ohio, has hired a JPMorgan Chase executive to be in charge of its technology.

The $973 million-asset bank will build one of its first stand-alone branches this year in Fairway, Kan., in the metro Kansas City area. Most of Academy's 88 branches are located inside Walmart stores.

It sounds like a bad idea to seat customers in front of a screen to open accounts or get other higher-level services from remote banking officers, but BluCurrent Credit Union in Springfield, Mo., turned to video banking to cure its branch traffic woes and its members seem to like it.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development is continuing to reject calls to slash the annual premium for the Federal Housing Administration despite a renewed push by the National Association of Realtors. But some predict the FHA may eventually cave in.

The Better Business Bureau serving the western part of Florida has issued an alert about a fraudulent debt collection operation using the name ACS Inc.

Foreclosures filings fell in the first quarter to the lowest level in more than nine years and foreclosure activity dropped below pre-recession levels in more than one-third of major metropolitan areas.

Severn Bancorp in Annapolis, Md., has agreements in place to raise $11 million through a private placement of common stock.

First Horizon National in Memphis, Tenn., reported improved quarterly earnings that reflected higher revenue.

Beneficial Bancorp in Philadelphia is planning to eliminate 11% of its workforce over the next three months.

With college graduation right around the corner, some credit unions are gearing up to appeal to the latest crop of job seekers who bring both a youthful perspective and a newly minted degree to the table.

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.

Regions Financial in Birmingham, Ala., posted a double-digit gain in its first-quarter profit as strong revenue growth more than offset continued deterioration in its energy-loan portfolio.

More than bitcoin, blockchain is interfering with the margins and business models of the finance world. The technology is also challenging our banking institutions’ longstanding platform as intermediaries.

Even while the FHFA finally embarked on a principal reduction plan, critics argued it was a dangerous idea that made Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac less safe while helping relatively few people.

BBVA Bancomer is partnering with media giant Univision to launch a digital money transfer service for the Hispanic population in the U.S.

WASHINGTON — The House passed a bill 247-171 on Thursday that would raise the threshold for a Federal Reserve Board exemption that helps banks raise Tier 1 capital.

Community Bank in Pasadena, Calif., has promoted from within to fill the positions of president and chief banking officer.

David Bohne was the president of a big, successful bank until he took a year off to clear his head. When he was ready to return, he looked at banks across the country but found what he needed in a small, family-run institution right in his hometown.

Washington Federal in Seattle said its profit rose 3.4% to $41.7 million in the three months that ended March 31 as loan growth outweighed higher information technology costs.