Banking

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau must take into account the differences among buy now/pay later lenders. Some — including traditional banks — are more committed to offering responsible financing without late fees or hidden costs.

Bank of America joined Wall Street rivals in capitalizing on market volatility in the first quarter while also benefiting from a 10% year-over-year increase in loans.

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency recently decided to put an official in charge of the rising number of small and midsize national banks that partner with fintechs or have nontraditional business plans. The agency’s goal is to establish a team that understands cutting-edge technologies and establishes consistent oversight policies in response.

One year after CEO Jane Fraser launched a business revamp, Citigroup reported lower revenue, higher expenses and a big reserve for loan losses in Russia. Yet the company’s long-term plan to streamline operations and invest in high-performing businesses — all with an aim to strengthen shareholder returns — still appears on track.

The Detroit company’s first-quarter results were highlighted by a 14% increase in car-loan originations. While executives expect credit quality to start normalizing, they also say that demand for vehicles will remain robust, with an estimated 4 million-5 million consumers still waiting on the sidelines.

Citigroup has begun the sales process for its consumer, small-business and middle-market banking divisions in Mexico, though an initial public offering remains on the table.

The Pittsburgh bank had warned that business activity in its capital markets unit was slowing because of economic uncertainty stemming from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. But its fee income declined by more than the company anticipated in the first quarter, and looming rate hikes from the Fed will no doubt cut into mortgage income further.

U.S. Bancorp and Wells Fargo both reported robust business loan volumes during the first quarter, while other large lenders reported smaller gains. Inflation is fueling more spending on technology, and companies are catching up on capital expenditures that they deferred earlier in the pandemic, according to bank executives.

To ensure authenticity, Community First Credit Union had its AI-powered voice system learn by communicating with Spanish-speaking employees who could teach it local terms and mannerisms.

John Newett, who joined the credit union in 2011 and was most recently its senior vice president of operations, has become its president and will succeed Ron Collier as chief executive.

The banking company did not say what policy longtime CEO Alan Thian violated, nor has it named a permanent successor. Thian has led RBB since it was founded in 2008.

CEO Jamie Dimon cited elevated risks related to inflation and the war in Ukraine as the nation’s largest bank added $902 million in loan-loss reserves. “Does this represent conservatism in an uncertain macro environment or something more onerous?” one analyst asked.

Theresa Mason will succeed longtime president and chief executive Dennis R. Adams, who announced his plans to retire from the credit union-owned share insurance fund earlier this year.

Mike Roffler, the San Francisco bank’s incoming chief executive, says he’s not shifting strategy. During the first quarter, the company leaned on its mortgage business, where customers moved to lock in refinancings before interest rates rose.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has the legal authority to adjust maximum late fees that issuers may charge. The Consumer Bankers Association predicts the agency will reduce the limits as part of its crackdown on "junk fees" and to soften the impact of inflation on cardholders.

As inflation increases, more companies are shifting to remote and hybrid work to get their costs under control. Landlords could face rising vacancies and tumbling revenue, leaving them behind on loan payments.

The state's Treasurer's office is urging lenders to make loans to cover the steep costs of adoption. Participating credit unions get an extra incentive by being permitted to accept deposits from public institutions — a perk typically enjoyed only by banks.

Banks have supported initiatives aimed at closing the racial equality gap but the industry risks undermining this by fighting new rules to gather demographic data on small-business lending.

The loss was driven by “funding spread widening as well as credit-valuation adjustments relating to both increases in commodities exposures and markdowns of derivatives receivables from Russia-associated counterparties,” the company said. 

California and New York were the first states to require the disclosure of certain pricing information to small-business borrowers. But as Utah, Virginia and other states add regulations for nonbank lenders, a fault line has emerged over the use of annual percentage rates.