Enhancing shareholder value is something that bank management needs in their filter daily. This mantra helps to make sure the decisions made today will help in providing value for the shareholders tomorrow (and not detracting from shareholder value). [Continue]
Founded in 1968 in St. Paul, Minn., Datasite specialized in financial printing, marketing and communications for regulated industries. In 2018, the company went through a major transformation, divesting its legacy businesses to focus solely on its M&A platform. Jenna Kroll, Datasite regional sales manager, based out of Chicago, describes how tech is changing M&A. [Continue]
John Cohron, CEO of JMFA, joins BankBeat Publisher Tom Bengtson to discuss the role of overdraft programs in the current environment, as some bigger banks look to eliminate or reduce them and some Democrat legislators turn increased scrutiny to their usage. [Continue]
For banks actively looking to expand brands, footprints and balance sheets via acquisitions and organic growth, bank stock financing can be a great solution. This low-rate environment also makes it an attractive opportunity to refinance existing debt. [Continue]
Risk management technology in the banking industry has evolved significantly in the last decade, but the benefits have generally been catered to large institutions. A sophisticated, holistic and modern enterprise risk management program should be a staple in banks of all sizes and types as a primary decision-making tool. [Continue]
To succeed in business, one must be competitive, nimble and always on the lookout for the Next Big Thing. It’s no different in banking, especially as the pandemic increased people’s use and acceptance of digital tools. What does that mean for today’s managers? More pointedly, perhaps I should ask: What does that mean for tomorrow’s managers? [Continue]
Once a rough framework for bank succession is in place, it’s time to call in the professionals — estate lawyers and tax accountants who can advise on and execute the technical aspects of transferring bank ownership along with other assets to the next generation. A well-crafted buy-sell agreement that specifies what happens to the principal owner’s stock at retirement or death is essential. A buy-sell (or buy-out) agreement provides for the redistribution of shares to put control of the bank in the right hands when a major shareholder leaves the bank, becomes disabled or dies. [Continue]
The last 18 months will undoubtedly be remembered for their impact on the economy and daily life. The effects of the coronavirus pandemic can certainly be seen in the valuations of community banks. [Continue]
Many banking organizations had a record year in 2020 and are wondering how to obtain a return on increased capital to best benefit the long-term strategic goals of the bank. This has resulted in an uptick in M&A activity and an analysis of new lending and investment opportunities. One area that many banks overlook, however, is the ability to return capital to shareholders via a tender offer. [Continue]
For quite a few years, the conversations surrounding agriculture have focused on financial stress. Since 2014, we’ve had a rise in farm bankruptcies, we watched low commodity prices place downward pressure on land values, we expected farm incomes to be stretched thin, and we knew that years of struggle were manifesting in mental health crises across rural America. [Continue]