Regional banks

The U.S. unit of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial has agreed to buy a platform from GE Capital.

Emily Vaughan Alexanderson will lead a group focused on education, nonprofit, technology and life sciences clients.

The San Francisco company's quarterly earnings also reflected higher wealth management revenue.

Financial institutions of all sizes are offering low- or zero-rate loans, waiving fees and making other arrangements to aid federal workers — a practice that regulators officially blessed on Friday, the 21st day of the closing of many U.S. agencies.

Intrepid Investment Bankers provides advice on M&A and capital markets activities.

Investors are spooked by banks' exposure to oil and other sectors threatened by a global slowdown as well as by policy uncertainties, but banks argue credit quality is strong and recession fears are exaggerated.

Synovus has given CFO Kevin Blair the additional title of COO. He will oversee three business lines, plus tech, operations and product and treasury management.

Associated will gain low-cost deposits and branches in 13 new markets after the deal closes.

The regional bank is working with customers to help develop and launch new products, including a small-business credit card.

Speaking at an investor conference Wednesday, John Turner said that sellers’ asking prices are too high and that Regions would prefer to buy a nonbank that could help boost fee income.

Big-bank execs downplayed gloomy economic forecasts and said a commercial lending rally, niche M&A and smart tech spending will drive growth in 2019.

Our Best in Banking honorees for 2018 share some of the smartest bits of advice and blows from the school of hard knocks that they've received over the years — and who (or what) supplied them.

The Midwest regional recently announced a referral partnership with the fintech lender CommonBond. By offering customers an option to refinance student loans at more favorable terms, the bank is hoping to cultivate their loyalty.

U.S. earnings climbed 44% from a year earlier, aided by lower taxes, a widening net interest margin, record contributions from its stake in TD Ameritrade.

The Bridgeport, Conn., company is developing a specialty in banking technology businesses. Like so many other small regionals with ambitious growth plans, it faces a tricky balancing act: how to take creative risks without getting in over its head.

Technology is often cited as the leg up large banks have in winning over customers, but regionals are worried about the “billions and billions” bigger rivals can pour into ubiquitous ad campaigns.

Zack Bishop has experience in blending the systems of merged banks, according to Synovus, which this summer announced its first whole-bank deal in more than a decade.

His knack for public policy, dedication to technological improvements once considered the province of big banks, and willingness to tear up a business model that he and his father built make him our top Best in Banking honoree.

Bank groups are pushing a variety of proposals to delay the loan-loss rule or soften its impact. The accounting standards board has agreed to review at least one of them — but at a pace that might not be fast enough for lenders.

Christopher Kay will oversee the Buffalo, N.Y., bank's branch and ATM networks as well as development of products and services that seek to mimic the cutting-edge offerings of other industries.