BankThink

Tall order for startup's leader: Keeping PPP borrowers in fold

12/30/20

Triad Business Bank opened in North Carolina shortly before the launch of the Paycheck Protection Program, which brought in many clients. CEO Ramsey Hamadi, one of our community bankers to watch in 2021, will have to work hard to retain them after their loans are forgiven.

[more]

Country, banking long overdue for cyberdefense upgrade

12/30/20

The latest cyberattacks pointing to the Russian government show that U.S. federal agencies and banks still lack a clear, collaborative game plan.

[more]

After a rocky year, Children’s Miracle Network looks to rebound in 2021

12/30/20

The charity was hit hard by the pandemic and the death of its CEO early in the year, but the nonprofit hopes to bounce back in 2021, thanks in part to a long history of working closely with credit unions.

[more]

Strip club scandal, charges of partisanship add to NCUA's rough year

12/30/20

The National Credit Union Administration juggled several challenges this year beyond the pandemic recession, including an inspector general's report about alleged misconduct by two former employees and criticism that board members had lost their old spirit of comity.

[more]

Diversification, M&A may lie ahead for New York Community under new chief

12/29/20

The switch to Thomas Cangemi from longtime CEO Joseph Ficalora could foreshadow a push to curtail the company’s reliance on multifamily lending and the pursuit of a bank acquisition that lowers funding costs.

[more]

How crypto and blockchain made inroads into financial services in 2020

12/29/20

Government officials and many bankers remain wary of digital currencies, but they'll have to learn to live with them. Here are 15 stories about how cryptocurrencies and the technology underlying them are becoming more embedded in the financial industry.

[more]

OceanFirst chief eyes possible merger of equals next year

12/29/20

Chris Maher recently unloaded loans hurt by the coronavirus shock, convinced he was freeing the New Jersey company of baggage that could impede a large M&A deal. This assertive move makes him one of our community bankers to watch in 2021.

[more]

House Dems demand fee waivers for new stimulus cards

12/29/20

Eleven Democrats on the Financial Services Committee have asked the heads of the Treasury Department and IRS to eliminate service charges tied to debit cards used to distribute COVID-19 relief.

[more]

How will SEC complaint affect banks’ relationships with Ripple?

12/29/20

The Securities and Exchange Commission last week accused Ripple of breaking securities laws, raising questions about the future of banks' ties with the company.

[more]

New Jersey, Pa. credit union foundations to merge

12/29/20

Last year, the Pennsylvania Credit Union Association and the New Jersey Credit Union League merged to form the CrossState Credit Union Association, and now the foundations of the two groups are combining.

[more]