Lenders have a role to play in the national reconciliation that must follow the recent racial unrest — providing greater access to capital for African Americans and other underserved groups so they can build wealth, activists said at a panel discussion hosted by Berkshire Bank in Boston.

The Credit Union National Association has been directed to work with the entire industry to find ways to address discrimination experienced by African Americans.

Credit union executives have led teams through past crises, but the pandemic has created new economic stresses and mental strain that CEOs must address.

The bank’s Asia-Pacific chief backs law giving greater mainland control over the territory; the Center for Responsible Lending said big banks took in almost $12 billion in overdraft fees last year, with the bulk of it paid by lower-income customers.

The demonstrations following George Floyd's death in police custody are forcing the industry to grapple with how it can — or if it should —advocate for equality and better race relations.

Financial institutions are trying to determine how to best protect branches as some demonstrations following George Floyd's death turn violent.

The program is intended to aid businesses hit hard by pandemic-induced lockdowns, but lenders are lobbying to have the rules relaxed to help owners of stores and offices damaged by recent riots and looting.

Rodney Hood, the first African American to lead a banking agency, said in a deeply personal statement that he was "familiar with the anger and frustration that comes with the everyday challenges and realities surrounding race."

Tom Shoemaker initially took the helm in 2017 on an interim basis after the Albuquerque, N.M.-based credit union called off a merger.

Many of the cultural changes instituted by Hisham Salama, one of American Banker’s 2020 digital bankers of the year, have led to a more agile tech team and higher customer satisfaction scores.

Bankers spent Monday cleaning up damaged branches, wondering if their small-business clients will need more emergency aid and contemplating how the racial and economic inequalities highlighted by days of violent protests nationwide can be corrected.

Patricia Sarne was named CEO of San Antonio Citizens Federal Credit Union after former chief executive Tim Baldwin retired.

Thomas O'Brien will take the helm at Sterling Bancorp, which is dealing with internal control issues and probes by the OCC and Justice Department into its mortgage operations.

The chiefs of some of the biggest U.S. banks called on their workers to fight racism after an unarmed black man died as a result of a white police officer kneeling on his neck, prompting nationwide protests.

Though he acknowledged working remotely has definite advantages, CEO Michael Corbat says “our goal is to get our employees back."

The bill, which now goes to the Senate, would give small businesses greater flexibility in how they use the funds; not everyone's on board with Otting's signature achievement.

Funds originally slated to assist credit union employees with attending conferences will now be used to help the state league put on virtual events.

University Bancorp decided to shutter its wholesale mortgage lending business after it struggled to hire and train employees remotely.

Full-time equivalent, as of Dec. 31, 2019. Dollars in thousands.

If the agency hadn’t revised the 1977 law now, nothing would be done for communities in need that are struggling even more in the coronavirus pandemic, writes Faith Bautista, CEO of the National Diversity Coalition.