Writer: Mara Gawarecki

R. Crosby Kemper, Jr., former chairman of UMB Financial Corporation of Kansas City, Mo., died yesterday at the age of 86. [Continue]

NW Financial Review’s inaugural Banker of the Year, C. G. “Kelly” Holthus, will retire as president of Cornerstone Bank in York, Neb., January 13. Jeffrey Krejci will replace him. [Continue]

The Christmas season is typically a time to give back to the community, and banks are no exception. Bell State Bank & Trust of Fargo, N.D., and River Valley Bank of Wausau, Wis., are just two of many such community-minded institutions making an impact in ways big and small this year. [Continue]

Although the economy is improving in the Rocky Mountain states, conditions among the region’s banks remain uneven. FDIC third quarter profiles for Colorado, Wyoming and Montana show that return on assets at the banks rose, but that net interest margin fell. [Continue]

Amid positive employment developments and housing growth, asset quality at banks in North and South Dakota continue to improve. However, FDIC third quarter profiles of the states show that assets held by North Dakota banks diminished, and, while total assets in South Dakota banks increased, smaller banks in the state experienced a decrease in assets. [Continue]

As employment and housing indicators improve, asset quality among Minnesota’s 364 banks continues to strengthen. However, the number of banks in the state is declining and there have been no new banks chartered in recent quarters. [Continue]

Unemployment numbers are improving but remain high around Lake Michigan, and bank performance in Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan and Indiana is similarly rocky. FDIC third quarter profiles for the four states show that net interest margins have deteriorated since 2011, and, while return on assets is improving in those states, it still remains below 1.00 percent. [Continue]

Amid improving employment and housing conditions, bank performance is also on the mend in Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri. FDIC third quarter profiles show improved assets and return on assets for banks in all four of those states since 2011. [Continue]

On Nov. 11, Grafton, N.D.-based Choice Financial announced the purchase of Great Plains National Bank of Belfield, N.D [Continue]

Banks in the Upper Midwest continue to see improvement in earnings according to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency’s Chicago office [Continue]