Community banks are in the early days of experimenting with AI and the earlier days of writing policies to govern its usage. It's key to do both at once.

Pima Federal Credit Union in Tucson plans to buy Republic Bank of Arizona in a cash transaction slated to close in the second half of this year. It's the ninth deal in 2024 in which a whole bank would sell itself to a credit union.

UMB Financial, Fulton Financial and Provident Financial Services have recently announced capital raises in connection with M&A deals. "They're setting a precedent," one consultant said.

The utility, under financial pressure following its involvement in the 2023 fires that ravaged Maui, reportedly is considering a sale of its profitable American Savings Banking unit. An executive declined to "speculate on any strategic transactions or alternatives."

CEO Kevin Cohee is convinced WiseOne, the AI companion OneUnited Bank rolled out late last year, can help customers make better financial decisions. Cohee also wants to see his passion for personal fiscal improvement play to a wider audience, through development of a nationwide financial literacy curriculum.

The $116 million deal to acquire HMN Financial in Rochester would mark the 26th acquisition of this century for Alerus. The transaction is slated to close in the fourth quarter.

The real-life British banker behind the hit Netflix movie 'Bank of Dave' talked with American Banker about the sequel due out next year and why opening more local community banks is so important.

Community Financial Development Institutions' mission-driven lending has traditionally been a small segment of the lending market. That's beginning to change, but plugging into secondary lending markets might not be the kind of change communities need.

Executives also say funding pressures have begun to ease, though high interest rates and deposit costs remain a leading worry, according to new surveys.

Quaint Oak Bancorp sold its majority stake in an equipment lender less than two years after the partnership helped drive record profits at the Southampton-based company.