Regional banks

Changing political and economic forces are raising new questions about deployment of tax savings and the cost of deposits, while old concerns about cost-cutting, credit quality and risk-taking persist or return.

Commercial customers, including small businesses, seem ready to pay up to shift to faster, more sophisticated electronic invoicing and payments, and enterprising banks that provide them the technology to do so could find it lucrative.

Increases in charitable donations will be more important than ever for bank reputations, as tax breaks and a lighter touch from financial regulators rekindle public anger about the financial crisis.

Bank M&A started off with a bang this year, with eight of the 10 biggest deals taking place in the first six months. North Carolina and Florida accounted for six deals on the list.

Davis, who stepped down as CEO a year ago, will retire as the company's chairman and as an employee at the end of 2017. Umpqua will then become one of the few publicly traded banking companies with a female chair.

The purchase will significantly increase Hancock's assets under management and administration.

The number of deals, overall dollar volume and premiums are on pace to top those from a year earlier, giving hope that even more consolidation will take place in 2018.

John Turner, the head of the Birmingham, Ala., company's corporate banking group, takes over the president's title from Chairman and CEO Grayson Hall.

The company has agreed to buy the operations of Veterans Mortgage in Salt Lake City.

The Los Angeles company will sell $1.6 billion in loans, largely tied to technology and health care, by the end of this year.

Fifth Third last bought a bank in 2008, but CEO Greg Carmichael says "strategic bank M&A absolutely makes sense," and the Cincinnati bank is poised to clear up a blot on its regulatory record that blocked dealmaking.

The company has been working to address an informal agreement with regulators tied to Bank Secrecy Act compliance.

The fires are raging in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, prompting California's governor to declare a state of emergency.

As some lenders exit indirect auto lending, those that stick around have an opportunity to control pricing and reach more customers.

The Tennessee company also set high expectations for revenue opportunities while projecting it will deliver a 15% return on equity in 2019.

During an industry conference Tuesday, executives from PNC, Wells Fargo, JPMorgan Chase and elsewhere offered differing takes on whether the Republican tax plan will boost loan demand.

Eagle Bancorp vigorously defended itself after a potential short seller made claims of dubious insider dealings, pushing back harder than many banks have in the past.

The expected refund is tied to loans that investors bought when they acquired the failed BankUnited in 2009.

The Small Business Credit Availability Act aims to double the debt-to-equity ratio for business development companies. Increased leverage could spur more lending to small and midsize borrowers.

American Banker’s award winners for 2017 had moments in their careers where hard knocks taught an indelible lesson, they trusted their gut or they listened to good advice. Here is a takeaway from each of their stories.