Banking

For too long, banks have outsourced innovation, placing their future in the hands of outside vendors. That's no longer a viable strategy. Banks need to bring innovation in-house again.

Acting Chair Travis Hill's push for quick weekend bank sales signals a break from past crisis strategies — but some experts warn of higher costs and increased consolidation risks

Tacoma, Washington-based Columbia Banking System said it will buy Pacific Premier Bancorp, accelerating its growth in Southern California by about a decade. The deal is Columbia's second major acquisition in three years.

The Raleigh, North Carolina-based company, which has been acquisitive in recent years, is more than halfway through a $3.6 billion share-repurchase plan. Executives said it's the best way to return capital to shareholders, but mergers remain part of its long-term strategy.

Credit unions are continuing to buy community banks, although at a slower pace than in 2024.

Small-business owners will be given the option to tap into anywhere from $50,000 to $500,000 in financing.

BCB Bancorp in Bayonne, New Jersey, swung to an $8.3 million loss in the first quarter due to a troubled cannabis loan. The crowded weed marketplace in the New York area is leading to tighter margins.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called for a course correction for the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, while saying that they serve "critical roles," and that the Trump administration is willing to work with them.

The Evansville, Indianapolis-based company now expects to complete its $1.4 billion acquisition of Bremer Financial in Minnesota on May 1, instead of mid-year.

The Sunshine State deal comes following a banner year for credit union-bank combinations, despite pushback from community banking advocates.

Synchrony Financial stands to benefit from the undoing of a Biden-era cap on credit card late fees. Company executives said that Tuesday that they won't be rolling back changes they implemented to compensate for revenue the company would have lost.

The growth of digital payments, coupled with the U.S.'s new open banking framework, may finally move the needle for an alternative form of credit decisioning.

MainStreet Bancshares in Fairfax has closed its banking-as-a-service subsidiary after the unit fell far short of meeting its revenue and deposit targets.

The National Credit Union Administration insists it can still function with one board member, but legal experts and industry groups say any substantive regulatory actions could face serious challenges.

The Dallas-based regional bank doesn't plan to halt in-progress investments, but it may adjust the pace of spending this year, depending on which way the economy goes. It also made downward revisions to its outlook for average loans, net interest income, fee income and expenses.

Both the Federal Reserve and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency signed off on the $35 billion transaction, which has faced opposition since it was announced last February.

The Ohio-based regional bank is poised to outperform in the second quarter after coming close to "hitting on all cylinders" during the first three months of the year, CEO Steve Steinour said.

The investment and custody bank beat Wall Street estimates on net income but missed on revenue expectations. An increase in fee revenue offset stagnant net interest income. Management expects more of the same for the rest of the year.