Banking

Earnings and total loans fell in the first quarter at M&T, but the Buffalo, New York, bank offered a rosier forecast for the rest of 2022. The outlook anticipates a shot in the arm from the recent acquisition of People's United Financial.

Bankers trying to get their net-zero CO2 targets certified now face hard deadlines to reduce capital flows to fossil fuels.

The Dallas bank reported an increase in energy loans for the first time in nearly three years, but executives don’t expect fossil-fuel lending to rebound to its previous highs.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is examining whether artificial intelligence discriminates against minorities and other applicants. But GreenState Credit Union in Iowa says the technology can be harnessed to make lending fairer in underserved communities.

Federal housing funds are targeted at building more apartments, not promoting homeownership, which is essential to building intergenerational wealth. There's an easy fix lawmakers have long ignored.

Bruce Van Saun, the Rhode Island bank’s CEO, previewed a branch-light strategy in new markets like South Florida and Washington, D.C. Citizens recently closed acquisitions of Investors Bancorp and much of HSBC’s U.S. retail banking business.

The bank has pivoted its commercial real estate operation as the rise of work-from-home arrangements has impacted market values. The only type of office space it's financing is Class-A buildings in major cities.

Though noninterest income at Truist Financial fell in the first quarter, executives revised upward their revenue estimate for the year in anticipation that the Fed’s monetary-tightening plans will fatten margins. Citizens Financial and Fifth Third echoed that thinking.

Regulators in a half dozen states have now thrown at least temporary roadblocks in front of credit unions’ effort to buy community banks.

The Federal Reserve has hired five executives from the stablecoin issuer Circle and at least one employee of Ripple since 2019 as part of its technology-focused recruiting efforts. It plans to do more hiring in the years ahead to aid its work on faster payments and central bank digital currencies.

Cleveland-based Ancora Holdings Group is picking up where it left off in 2019, calling for the sale of Middlefield Bancorp in northeast Ohio. Only this time Ancora says it's willing to initiate a proxy contest if management stands in the way of a possible transaction.

The New York custody banking giant took an eight-cent blow to its first-quarter earnings per share as a result of its retreat from the Russian market. Still, the company’s current estimate of the move’s ongoing impact is slightly smaller than its previous guidance.

Year to date through Dec. 31, 2021. Dollars in thousands.

Matt Rookard, who has worked on economic development initiatives in the state, will succeed Bob Gallman, the former president and chief executive, on May 2.

Bank of America expects 3% GDP growth this year and a 2% improvement next year, even in the face of rising rates. Consumers’ continued willingness to spend and borrow, which was evident in the bank’s first-quarter results, is a key reason for that outlook.

The military-focused bank and insurance company has added more personalization and a search tool.

Stephen Owen has worked for Bank of America and OnPoint Community Credit Union in Oregon, and will succeed Charles Bruen at the Hollywood-based credit union.