Commercial banking

In a surprise move this week, banking veteran Sandro DiNello was appointed executive chairman of the embattled Long Island-based company, whose stock plummeted in the face of questions about its financial health.

The regional bank announced a leadership shakeup on Wednesday, capping a tumultuous week in which shareholders became spooked about its exposure to the commercial real estate sector.

Just weeks ago, prospects seemed strong for bank stocks to regain ground after a volatile 2023. But renewed credit concerns stemming from issues at New York Community Bancorp, and the increasing odds that interest rates will remain high for months, have dampened that outlook.

The top five banks and thrifts have more than $1 trillion in combined commercial and industrial loans as of September 30, 2023.

Former Flagstar CEO Alessandro DiNello, who had been New York Community's nonexecutive chairman, was named executive chairman after the Long Island bank's stock price fell by more than 59% in a week. New York Community also issued updates on both its deposit situation and its search for a new chief risk officer.

The British lender has named the company veteran its global head of leveraged finance as it seeks to capture more business from the giants of private equity. 

Bankers during recent earnings reports predicted lower deposit costs as 2024 wears on. But with inflation still elevated and the jobs market strong, the Federal Reserve probably won't begin lowering rates — and thus easing the drag on lenders' profits — until May at the earliest.

The North Carolina bank agreed to offload Sterling Capital Management to Guardian Capital Group in Toronto. It's the latest step in the effort to simplify Truist.

A day after the regional bank's stock tumbled on tough fourth-quarter results and some austerity moves, observers debated whether management just needs time to build enough capital to catch up with growth or if it is still too overexposed in multifamily lending.

The parent company of Flagstar Bank surprised investors by slashing its dividend, charging off two large real-estate loans and preparing for more trouble in the office and multifamily sectors.