Agricultural roundup
In late 2019, when ag bankers reflected on the year and forecast expectations for 2020, they foresaw classic perennial challenges: bad weather and low commodity prices. What 2020 actually delivered would have been hard to predict. No one has been immune from the struggles the COVID-19 pandemic has wrought on ...
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Minnesota non-profit redirects deposits to help community banks
Medica, the largest non-profit health insurer in Minnesota, has traditionally had most of its operations accounts in larger banks. After ...
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Indiana banker values words, community
Almost every Friday morning for the past 10 years, Kathy Schoettlin’s voice is heard on the local radio. Fueled by ...
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Blockchain offers too much security to be ignored
It’s been 12 years since the world was introduced to the technology that launched cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. The revolution was ...
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Chronicles
Ag lenders concerned about credit quality
Credit quality and the deterioration of agricultural loans remain top concerns for ag lenders as the farm economy works through ...
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ChoiceOne opens Macomb LPO
Michigan’s ChoiceOne Bank is opening a loan office in the northeast Detroit metro area this month ...
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Banks tighten lending standards, weigh forbearance considerations
The Federal Reserve Board’s October 2020 Senior Loan Officer Opinion Survey on Bank Lending Practices stayed relatively consistent with the ...
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Mercantile expands into Ohio
Michigan’s Mercantile Bank is expanding into the Ohio market with the opening of a new mortgage lending center in Cincinnati ...
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Michigan CU buying bank
United Federal Credit Union in St. Joseph, Mich., has agreed to acquire Edgewater Bank, St. Joseph ...
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Bank First closing branch
Manitowoc, Wis.-based Bank First is planning to close its branch in Weyauwega, Wis., in January ...
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People
Peoples names COO, CRO
Robert Lowry was named executive vice president, chief operating officer of NorthWest Indiana Bancorp and its subsidiary Peoples Bank, both ...
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Banks name directors
Three Midwest banks announced new directors: Minnesota's Pioneer Bank, Illinois' Old Second National Bank, and Michigan's Independent Bank ...
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Foresight subsidiary president retiring
Mary Hartman is retiring as president and CEO of State Bank in Freeport, Ill., a subsidiary of Foresight Financial, Winnebago, ...
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Opinion
Carranza gets a big start at the SBA
September 30 marked the close of the 2020 fiscal year for the country; what an enormous year it turned out ...
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Let’s stop being so doggedly predictable
I have a friend named Steve with whom I share a monthly dinner out with our respective spouses. Steve is ...
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The 2 percent solution: An argument for reparative investment
There are about 4,700 banks in America. Only 21 are Black-owned and they have less than $5 billion in assets ...
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Community Relations
Indiana banks honored for community service
Alliance Bank, Francesville, and First Savings Bank, Jeffersonville, have been honored with the Indiana Bankers Association Commitment to Community Awards ...
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Great Western hands out ‘Gifts of Gratitude’
Sioux Falls-based Western Bank is honoring outstanding individuals across its footprint through a one-time award program called Great Gifts of ...
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Indiana bank funds food truck
Bippus State Bank is providing funds to bring a food truck to local Indiana schools to feed more than 500 ...
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