Marketing is a particular application of a bank’s overarching brand identity and strategy. If you know who you are, you know what kinds of customers you’ll seek, what kinds of products you’ll offer and what the tone and content of your marketing will be. [Continue]
On Feb. 19, the Illinois Bankers Association announced that Randy Hultgren would be its next president and CEO. Hultgren, who served as a U.S. Representative for Illinois’ 14th congressional district from 2011 to 2019, plunged into the depths of IBA’s coronavirus response, working alongside retiring IBA President and CEO Linda Koch. Hultgren speaks to his unexpectedly eventful first months on the job. [Continue]
As the fourth generation of his family involved in leadership at Peoples Bank, Munster, Ind., Ben Bochnowski knows he has a responsibility to carry on a proud legacy of excellence almost a century deep. A key part of that work has been putting together a stellar team inside Peoples Bank and fostering the development of qualified banking employees in the broader industry. [Continue]
When the first round of funding from the Paycheck Protection Program opened the floodgates in April, Nikki Walker sat with fingers poised over the keyboard, ready to wrestle with the Small Business Administration’s E-Tran portal. Walker put in 16-hour days entering applications during the initial rush, working at the head of a team of six reviewing files after lenders had turned in paperwork. All told, the St. Francis, Minn.-based Village Bank processed 329 applications totaling more than $55 million by the time the initial funds ran out. [Continue]
With the COVID-19 pandemic cancelling large gatherings left and right, Bank Iowa wanted to step up and fill the gap during the Easter season. The Des Moines bank had sponsored local egg hunts over the years and decided to take the event digital across its footprint this year. [Continue]
First Farmers Bank & Trust has launched a three-pronged attack against the economic impacts of COVID-19 in its communities. The Converse, Ind.-based bank created a program to connect hog farmers with local food banks, committed to donating $75,000 for donated lunches purchased from local restaurants to donate to first responders and medical professionals. [Continue]
In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court has ruled that the current structure of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is unconstitutional, although it left its existence intact. [Continue]
Documents in the ongoing legal battle between the Otto Bremer Trust and Bremer Financial Corporation and BFC directors have been unsealed, revealing more details of what has been a drawn-out disagreement. At the heart of debate is the trust’s ability to sell Bremer Bank over the wishes of the non-OBT directors of the St. Paul, Minn.-based BFC. [Continue]
The trustees of the Otto Bremer Trust, the 86 percent majority shareholder of Bremer Financial Corporation, filed amended counterclaims against BFC and seven of its directors in the ongoing Bremer Bank saga. [Continue]
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has filed a suit against Fifth Third Bank over allegations it opened deposit and credit card accounts without customers’ knowledge or consent and transferred funds from consumers’ existing accounts into them. [Continue]