Commercial banking

The investment banking giant said that it will "moderate" its pace of share repurchases as it continues to talk to the Federal Reserve, which recently increased its stress capital buffer from 5.5% to 6.4%.

Investment banking fees shot up at the nation's largest bank, thanks to rebounds in M&A and the equity capital markets segment. And despite higher credit costs in the company's card business, a top bank executive expressed confidence in the health of U.S. consumers.

The top five community banks have combined first mortgage loans of more than $2.8 billion as of March 31, 2024.

After the megabank was hit with $136 million in regulatory fines over its alleged failure to comply with 4-year-old consent orders, analysts assessed the likely fallout. "There is clearly frustration on the part of regulators," one analyst wrote.

The ratings firm evaluated 4,100 loans to assess the state of 41 banks' commercial real estate risk. It found that the lenders should be holding, on average, about twice the amount of reserves they currently have for office loans.

In this month's roundup of top banking news: a cease-and-desist issued by the Federal Reserve, high CFO turnover, the end of Chevron deference and more.

First Foundation will use the large investment to shrink its multifamily loan portfolio, which has weighed down its earnings since interest rates began rising.

Maryland-based Forbright Bank, which is led by a onetime Democratic presidential candidate, relied extensively on brokered deposits as it grew after a 2021 rebranding. The bank says it has made changes in response to regulators' concerns.

The top five community banks have more than $1.2 billion in combined farm loan portfolios as of March 31, 2024.

Bloom Credit Union and West Michigan Credit Union aim to join forces; Long Island-based New York Community Bancorp plans a reverse stock split; Providence, Rhode Island-based Citizens Financial hires longtime California banker to lead its middle-market team; and more in this week's banking news roundup.

Later this week, the Federal Reserve will release the results of its annual check-up on larger banks' balance sheets. Experts say there are always surprises, but that pending capital rules may have a bigger impact than the stress-test results on banks' dividend and buyback decisions.

The managing director and head of treasury solutions at Texas Capital Bank is one of American Banker's 2024 Innovators of the Year.

The Honolulu bank is raising $165 million through depositary shares, a move that two observers said would help boost its below-average leverage ratio.

The collateral that supports commercial and industrial loans is generally weaker than in commercial real estate, where banks can take over a devalued office building. Analysts say the loans merit a closer look as commercial bankruptcies rise.

The top five community banks have combined commercial and industrial loans of nearly $1.7 billion as of March 31.

Some banks with large commercial real estate concentrations are seeing their stock values take a roller-coaster ride as investors discount their assurances about the wobbly asset class.

Due to retirement, burnout, heightened regulatory standards and profitability challenges, lots of lenders are looking for new chief financial officers. The wave of departures is giving banks a chance to bring in more highly skilled finance chiefs.

As high interest rates continue weighing on banks' balance sheets, some are selling branches to real estate firms and leasing them back. The strategy is helping lenders that want to restructure their underwater bond portfolios.

The Boston-based custody bank will place deposits at Carver State Bank, Citizens Trust Bank and Ponce Bank as part of its broader effort to help reduce the wealth gap. State Street plans to place a total of $100 million of deposits at minority depository institutions this year.

During New York Community Bancorp's annual shareholder meeting, executives reiterated their mission to restore value in the beleaguered Long Island-based company. Questions from shareholders suggested at least some discontent following a capital influx that significantly diluted their position in the company.