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Some small banks see upgrading consumer-facing tech as an imperative

Nov 15, 2024
Community banks, known for personal ties with borrowers and savers, seek upgrades to provide more services and improve customer experience.
Surveys show bank customers broadly frustrated with the customer experience. Many banks see technology as a means to expand services and improve convenience.
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Investment banking is making big bucks right now

Oct 16, 2024
Investment bankers help companies raise money through the stock market or by taking advantage of falling interest rates.
"Companies are a lot more likely to issue equity when stock prices are high than when they’re low," explained the University of Florida's Jay Ritter.
Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

Why many banks are preparing for an uptick of bad loans

Oct 14, 2024
Throughout the last year, a lot of big banks have been stocking away more cash to cover bad loans. But even though banks are concerned about the broader economy, they're still trying to make loans where they can.
Many banks are nervous about commercial real estate loans, with vacancies stubbornly up. They're also keeping an eye on rising credit card debt.
Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images

New guidelines aim to make sure bank mergers benefit communities

Sep 20, 2024
The rules were updated by several federal regulators this week, including the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.
Under the new guidelines, regulators will consider whether a bank merger would give small businesses more access to credit.
Ozan Kose/AFP via Getty Images

U.S. banks remain the world's largest funders of fossil fuels

May 16, 2024
Banks have invested trillions of dollars since the Paris Agreement went into effect.
JPMorgan Chase was the number one fossil fuel financier in the world last year, according to the 15th Banking on Climate Chaos report.
Chris Hondros/Getty Images

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.
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For public good, not for profit.

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.
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