Regional banks

Several companies said this week they’re slashing expenses as the economy limps along. Others would prefer to keep investing in new technologies and hold off on moves like branch closings to better gauge which changes in consumer behavior will stick.

“What COVID has done for us is it has showed us where to prioritize investments,” William Demchak said at an industry conference in discussing the Pittsburgh company's plans to speed up the shift to digital banking.

The performance of about $3 billion in hotel and other loans flagged by the Dallas company as high-risk has been a "a pleasant surprise," its chief credit officer said at an industry conference.

Justice Department officials have embarked on a rewrite of antitrust policy that could waive certain requirements for community bank mergers and provide fewer advantages to large, out-of-town buyers and banks in urban areas.

The bank's innovation group has developed a software tool for law firms. It hopes the project will help it speed products to market and attract top technology talent.

Only one of the 118 loans bought by the Federal Reserve through Aug. 31 was close to the $250,000 minimum in the rescue program, aimed small to midsize businesses hurt by the pandemic.

The Ohio regional added a feature to its mobile app that analyzes a customer's spending habits before sweeping small amounts of cash into a savings account.

The move is part of the effort by banks and other companies to promote racial equity and be more sensitive to the stresses on front-line employees.

The bank's five-year commitment will focus on providing more capital to small businesses and expanding access to affordable housing and homeownership.

The results of the American Banker/RepTrak Survey of Bank Reputations underscore the importance of communicating in a crisis.