Deposits

Midsize lenders have largely defied the most dire predictions following Silicon Valley Bank's demise. But the nation's largest banks still have structural advantages, and the regionals remain hampered by their real-estate heavy portfolios and the continuing impact of high interest rates.

During the March 2023 banking crisis, company executives had to calm panicked customers, shore up liquidity and reassure investors after two other regionals failed. Key decisions during a critical seven-day window likely averted disaster.

Ken Vecchione, leader of Western Alliance since 2018, grew up listening to his parents talk business strategy around the dinner table. He called on those lessons and his more than 30 years of experience to steer the regional bank through last year's turmoil.

The Long Island bank plans to balance its loan mix and fix its risk controls. But following a large capital injection led by two former Trump administration officials, the new leadership is asking for more time to formulate its strategy.

Royal Bank of Canada is optimistic that new U.S. leadership, including former Fifth Third CEO Greg Carmichael, can rejuvenate its struggling City National Bank.

MainStreet Bancshares in Fairfax says it can succeed where others have run into some thorny regulatory problems by cutting out the middleware and linking fintech partners directly to its core.

Many deposits classified as brokered are actually very "sticky." Recognizing that would go a long way toward improving banks' stability.

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.

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 $18.5 billion-asset institution saw member growth increase by 22% year-over-year and fund levels surge in the first six months of last year after deploying a new deposit origination platform.

Bank leaders have a rosier outlook about economic conditions over the coming year than they did three months ago, according to a new survey of industry executives.

The Tennessee-based bank was forced to keep operating on its own after a proposed acquisition was called off. Months later, First Horizon has picked up new customers and improved its profitability, but investors remain cautious amid plans for catch-up spending on technology.

The Alabama bank's executives said commercial borrowers remain cautious amid high rates and economic uncertainty. During the fourth quarter, flat lending and higher deposit costs weighed down the company's net interest income.

The new service will allow financial institutions to streamline the process for moving accounts and verifying income.

After being undercapitalized for decades, some minority-led banks finally got large capital infusions in the wake of George Floyd's murder. But higher interest rates have made it harder for them to gather the deposits they need to boost lending substantially.

Heading into the year, U.S. banks were facing pressure to pay higher rates to their depositors. But they could not have anticipated just how important deposits would soon become.

The $225 billion-asset Citizens Financial Group has partnered with the fintech Pinwheel to streamline the process for new account holders to switch the direct deposit of their paychecks from their old banks.

The Connecticut bank agreed to pay $350 million to acquire Ametros Financial, a custodian and administrator of medical funds from insurance claim settlements. Some analysts see the deal as a signal that Webster does not plan to sell its health savings account business, which has been the subject of recent speculation.

Mobile banking features that encourage customers to set savings goals can supercharge customer loyalty and attract new primary banking customers. A renewed focus on consumer savings may also help banks offset the decline in deposits reported at many banks in 2023.