Banking

Holders of the card, issued by Synchrony Financial, receive 3% cash back on medical visits, veterinarian bills, gym fees and certain other health-related expenses.

Despite spending billions, many banks fail to deliver on the human aspects of the customer experience that deepen relationships and drive customers into action.

New research from American Banker and Monigle reveals which banks, credit unions and challenger banks are turning customers into fans — and which ones have work to do.

Cypress Bank & Trust is poised to open in Palm Beach, and longtime banker Stephen Gordon just launched Genesis Bank in Newport Beach. Meanwhile, two more groups have filed for de novos in August, bringing the list of pending applications nationally to 16.

The credit union tapped Kenneth Orgeron, its chief operating officer, to serve as acting CEO.

The billionaire entrepreneur, Dallas Mavericks owner and "Shark Tank" co-host has always been outspoken. In a recent interview, he shared his thoughts on the shortcomings of the Paycheck Protection Program, the problem with bank consolidation and the future of cryptocurrency.

Three credit unions have announced deals to acquire community banks in the past week. The latest is the Wisconsin-based Royal, which is buying the $441 million-asset Lake Area Bank.

Board diversity is one of the reasons that credit unions outperform banks in hiring women for the role of chief executive. “It starts at the top," says Jan Page, president and CEO of Community South Credit Union in Florida.

The combination of Orion Federal Credit Union and Financial Federal Bank is the seventh credit union-bank merger announced this year.

The expanded credit access in its automated mortgage decisioning goes into effect in mid September.

The credit union has promoted Michael Crowl, the organization’s executive vice president of member experience, to be its first president.

It may seem odd that Citigroup has created an online lending platform that matches small businesses with minority-run and other banks for no financial benefit. Yet company executives and observers say it makes sense.

Small increases in commercial real estate loan volumes, particularly at midsize banks, may be indicators that the sector has weathered the worst of the pandemic. Construction loan originations, which tend to fall sharply during a recession, are leading the way.

Despite clear evidence to the contrary, the mortgage insurer continues to insist that credit unions have the same risk profile as nonbank lenders. It’s now threatening to exclude nearly a quarter of credit unions from being qualified issuers of the securities it backs.

The $119 million-asset Ergo Bank in Wisconsin, which is working with the fintech Neocova, says artificial intelligence and modern data management are attainable for even the smallest financial institutions — and essential to competing with larger banks for consumers.

Tom Young is stepping down as president and CEO of the Green Bay, Wisconsin, credit union. His successor has not yet been named.

Abbott Cooper, the head of Driver Management, says Codorus Valley Bancorp is not as profitable as its peers. Cooper, who has successfully forced the sale of at least two other banks, has indicated he's ready to launch a proxy fight.

The combination of American Express and its fintech subsidiary Kabbage is starting to bear fruit at an opportune time, as credit card companies increasingly expand their range of products to boost revenue.

The Arkansas bank has hired an 11-member team to develop its new operation. Much of the team joins from TCF Financial, which was sold to Huntington Bancshares in June.

Ann Arbor Bancorp had agreed to buy FNBH in February 2020 but backed off four months later amid economic uncertainty. The two sides have reunited, though the price tag rose.