Support our non-partisan non-profit newsroom 💜 Donate now

Acquire or be acquired may be the new reality for small and midsize banks

Mar 14, 2024
Many are struggling with high deposit rates and shaky commercial real estate portfolios. Some seek to bulk up as a solution.
First Republic failed and was absorbed by JPMorgan Chase. Due to pressures in the banking industry, some expect to see more consolidation.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Banks are still grappling with fallout of SVB's failure one year on

Mar 11, 2024
Regulators are more watchful, and banks are trying to be more resourceful.
The banking system was caught off guard by the problems at Silicon Valley Bank,  Signature Bank and First Republic Bank.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

What does it mean for a bank to find “material weaknesses”?

Mar 4, 2024
Regional lender New York Community Bancorp swapped out its CEO last week following the revelation of what it called “material weaknesses in the company’s internal controls.
New York Community Bank acquired nearly $40 billion in assets from Signature Bank last year. That rapid growth can make it hard for internal controls to keep up.
Spencer Platt/Getty Images

A year after Silicon Valley Bank failed, lenders are still feeling pressure on all sides

Feb 23, 2024
Rising interest rates have cranked up the interest banks are paying depositors. But banks also have a lot of cash stuck in low-interest bonds and loans they made before the Federal Reserve started raising interest rates.
A lot of the problems that last year’s bank failures revealed are still troubling small and mid-sized banks today.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Larger credit card issuers charge higher rates than smaller ones

Feb 16, 2024
Consumers often choose a familiar name, despite the costs. The CFPB's findings come as credit card debt in the U.S. is rising.
The median interest rate that larger issuers offered to customers with good credit is 28%, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

With commercial real estate set for another tough year, some small banks are worried

Jan 17, 2024
Amid high interest rates and vacancy rates, lenders and regulators are concerned about the fallout when borrowers renew their loans.
Plenty of companies are planning to downsize their office space, which worries lenders that have a lot of commercial real estate debt on their balance sheets.
David McNew/Getty Images

Atlanta Fed president: "This economy has even exceeded my expectations of resilience"

Dec 15, 2023
"Wage growth now is greater than inflation," Bostic says. "But I don't think people feel like they've caught up all the way and that's just going to take some time."
In the fight to bring down inflation, Atlanta Fed President Raphael Bostic emphasizes being  "patient, cautious and resolute."
Courtesy Atlanta Federal Reserve

For public good, not for profit.

Big banks post big profits

Oct 13, 2023
The classic way banks make money rests on three words: net interest income.
Big banks JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo and Citigroup told investors they netted a combined $22 billion this past quarter.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

The Federal Reserve could help instant payments catch on

Aug 2, 2023
Many small banks have been hesitant to offer instant payments, even though they’ve been available for years. But the central bank’s FedNow service could cause more banks to give instant payments a try.
A couple of weeks ago, the Federal Reserve launched FedNow, a new payment service that allows people to send and receive money instantly.
Daniel Slim/AFP via Getty Images