Demographics

Finance that relies on smartphones and smart contracts can lower costs for banking services and promote financial inclusion, proponents say. But a look at who is using the technology tells a different story.

Fintechs and banks have stepped up their efforts to help so-called “credit invisibles” obtain credit through secured cards, specialized installment loans and use of alternative data in underwriting. Amid much progress, questions remain about how effective these tools really are.

Brian Gunn, who will join the Tokyo-based bank on next month, previously served as chief risk officer at Santander Holdings USA, Ally Financial and a GE Capital subsidiary.

Jamie Dimon said he’s unlikely to be running JPMorgan Chase in 10 years, but he does see himself staying for another five years.

Stored-value cards are growing in popularity with underbanked gig workers who need an easier way to get paid as well as with younger consumers in Canada who have traditional bank accounts but prefer the cards for e-commerce transactions.

Senate Banking Committee Chairman Sherrod Brown urged the agency to share insights about the risks posed by neobanks, such as the San Francisco firm that sparked a customer backlash earlier this year.

Research shows a third of younger consumers are ready to switch banks in the next year. Here are some of the features traditional institutions could offer to keep them in the fold or bring them on board.

The Arkansas bank built the mobile-first Coin Checking to suit Generation Z and young millennials. A phone-friendly app and simplified sign-up process are among its selling points.

Hafize Gaye Erkan, the San Francisco bank's president, will share the chief executive role with longtime leader James Herbert, whose contract was extended through 2022.

In the midst of its merger with CIT Group, First Citizens in North Carolina has hired an in-house chief counsel with experience in corporate integrations.

Wells CEO Charlie Scharf, a former Jamie Dimon protege, has surrounded himself with JPMorgan Chase alumni. Ling will start in October and join the company’s operating committee.

The Treasury Department is awarding $1.25 billion to 863 community development financial institutions through the Rapid Response Program, which allows banks and credit unions to earmark funds for mortgages and business loans in underserved markets.

William "BJ" Losch will become chief financial officer at the Wilmington, North Carolina-based small-business lender. The former CFO of Iberiabank will take over the vacated position at First Horizon on an interim basis.

No-fee digital bank accounts subsidized by the Federal Reserve would help community banks draw in new customers and pay for technology upgrades, proponents of the idea say. But it's a hard sell to executives skeptical of government involvement in retail banking.

Southern Bancorp, a community development financial institution, will devote part of a multimillion-dollar investment from the payments giant to developing technology that helps consumers budget, buy a home and more.

Verizon Family Money is an app and prepaid debit card where children can spend under the limits set by their parents.

With a big assist from M&T Bank, the software developer Magnusmode has added step-by-step instructions for conducting essential banking activities to its mobile service that caters to consumers on the autism spectrum.

The average American’s financial picture is bleaker than government data suggests, according to the former comptroller of the currency. Research from his new organization, the Ludwig Institute for Shared Economic Prosperity, has found that unemployment is higher and household wages are lower than reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

High-tech videoconferencing is no replacement for high-touch in-person meetings. Yet some bank directors who are vaccinated remain hesitant to return to boardrooms.