Regulations pose industry threat
The word tsunami used to refer to a gigantic ocean wave resulting from an earthquake or volcanic eruption; increasingly, however, when bankers hear “tsunami” their minds turn toward the regulatory environment ...
2024 in review: Fraud growing harder to detect, fight
While artificial intelligence promises to create time-saving tools and processes for bankers, AI opens the door to increasingly sophisticated scams, ...
M&A pace slowed this year
Relatively high interest rates in 2024 resulted in a slower pace of merger and acquisition transactions, but several large deals ...
Economic challenges dominated community banking in 2024
Twenty twenty-four was yet another challenging year for community bankers ...
Chronicles
NFIB: Small business owner optimism increased in November
Small business optimism increased last month, surpassing its 50-year average for the first time in nearly three years, according to ...
Judge upholds ban on CFPB’s credit card late fee proposal
A federal judge recently upheld a preliminary injunction against the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s proposed limit on credit card late ...
FSOC: Banking sector resilient in ’24 amid numerous risks
The banking sector has been resilient this year, supported by high levels of regulatory capital, sufficient liquidity buffers, and strong ...
Consumer sentiment continues to rise
Consumer sentiment continued to rise this month as economic views diverged based on political party identification, according to the University ...
Beige Book: Economy grew in recent weeks
Economic activity increased in recent weeks across the country, according to the Federal Reserve Beige Book. ...
GOP House members call for FDIC to withdraw brokered deposits revamp
Republican House members are calling for the FDIC to withdraw its brokered deposits proposal ...
People
Merchants Bank hires information security executive
Winona, Minn.-based Merchants Bank hired Steve Molander as chief information officer ...
Alerus hires Birkholz as chief risk officer
Grand Forks, N.D.-based Alerus hired Joe Birkholz as chief risk officer. ...
First Mid Bancshares appoints Seneca Foods CEO to board
Mattoon, Ill.-based First Mid Bancshares appointed Paul Palmby to its board of directors ...
Opinion
Leaders should model a healthy work-life balance
As leaders gain self-awareness and decide that busyness is not a virtue, they’ll begin to model a healthy work-life balance, ...
Potential tax changes spur Sub S vs C discussions
Provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 are expected to end as of Dec. 31, 2025. That ...
FDIC report shows bankers are meeting their mission
One of the first things I learned when I started covering community banking nearly 3 1/2 years ago was that ...
Community Relations
Waukesha State Bank, FHLB Bank award $30K in grants
Waukesha, Wis.-based Waukesha State Bank is partnering with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago to award two $15,000 grants ...
One Community Bank matching donations for splash pad
Oregon, Wis.-based One Community Bank is matching donations of up to $50,000 to the Oregon-Brooklyn Optimists Club and Oregon School ...
Wisconsin’s Forward Bank donates $115K to local library
Marshfield, Wis.-based Forward Bank donated $115,000 to the DR Moon Memorial Library. ...