Commercial banking

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce’s push to be less domestically focused is showing signs of success, thanks to its June takeover of Chicago-based PrivateBank.

The investment continues a trend of banks focusing on commercial payments technology.

It is easy to tire of predictions that business lending is poised to rev up. But HSBC USA's Richard Martin sees faster growth among U.S. midsize firms than at their international peers, as well as international-expansion potential for the U.S. companies — and his business plan is counting on all of it.

If the company they plan to establish comes together and works — still a big if — it could give JPMorgan an edge in competing with other banks, lead to innovative payments and other products and create unforeseen issues.

Federal Home Loan banks have significantly increased their lending to large financial institutions in the post-crisis years, but it’s doubtful this activity will create undue systemic stress because it has displaced other, riskier forms of bank funding.