Burke & Herbert Financial Corp. and Summit Financial Group announced a transaction that they described as a merger of equals valued at roughly $371.5 million in stock.

The small community bank was bought up by crypto-focused investors and quickly repositioned to cater to tech innovators. Is this problematic or perfectly legitimate?

Forget special offers, ubiquitous branches and promises of convenience. Younger clients want to see state-of-the-art technology and hear good things from friends and family, according to a recent Arizent survey.

A series of deals over the summer suggests growing interest by private equity investors in acquiring community banks. Five such deals have been announced this summer alone.

News of the delisting, prompted by ongoing delays related to filing its 2022 annual report, triggered a selloff of the Philadelphia-based company's battered stock.

Credit unions held more than 66% of all assets in the community development financial institution ecosystem, according to research from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

The plan calls for the formation of Orca Bank in Bellingham, Washington. It would become a subsidiary of Savi, whose CEO would assume the same role at the bank.

Two-thirds of business executives expect to pursue merger-and-acquisition deals over the next 12 months, according to a new EY survey. That's good news for larger banks with M&A advisory operations.

Cambridge Savings Bank's Ivy Bank online-only unit has spent two years offering CDs and savings accounts. Meanwhile, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group's new digital bank, Jenius, launched with personal loans. Both want to widen their product sets to benefit both sides of the balance sheet.

There has been a recent surge in organizing efforts among credit union employees. To discourage this, leaders should pay workers well, provide good benefits and be accessible.

Unionizing a workplace is an arduous process, meaning that employees who organize are dedicated to change. Executives must seize on these moments to address workers' concerns instead of reacting defensively.

Banking and credit union regulators encouraged compassionate treatment of customers in Hawaii communities hit by wildfires. They also vowed to grant expedited approvals of temporary banking facilities, be flexible in compliance matters and provide other support to financial institutions.

Dan Sheehan, former CEO at Professional Bank in Coral Gables, said he's "putting the band back together" to spearhead his new, Texas-based employer's expansion plans in the Sunshine State.

Community bankers anticipate that interest rates could soon level off and the broader economy may avert a downturn as a result. If that forecast proves true, lenders could minimize credit losses and enjoy stronger loan demand than they had expected earlier in the year.

Thomas O'Brien has gained a reputation for being able to salvage institutions on the brink of disaster. With his latest rescue job nearly complete, the fix-it specialist ponders his next move.

The three former Washington Federal Bank for Savings board members were accused of giving the OCC false information in an attempt to hide embezzlement. They could face up to five years in prison for attempting to deceive the OCC.

In the wake of destruction across Maui, financial institutions based inside and outside of Hawaii are establishing support programs, raising relief funds and facilitating donations of food and clothing.

Right now it's every bank for themselves when it comes to translating financial disclosures into languages other than Spanish. The process comes with a number of challenges, such as ensuring all customers can understand the information despite nuances in the different Chinese dialects.

In his new book, "The Song of Significance," Seth Godin, a business management author, dives into how executives can rethink being profit driven and help create meaning in the work for employees.

Citizens Bank of Edmond in Oklahoma, in conjunction with the digital-banking platform Narmi, recently launched an account-opening process that occurs completely online. The project, completed in less than three months, could be a model for community banks that want to innovate but fear being a low priority for vendors.