What's more, loan officers' pay has dropped. At work behind these surprising trends is a blend of economic forces, technological change and pressure on banks to pay entry-level employees better.
With traditional mortgage lending opportunities becoming increasingly scarce, banks in Seattle and Portland are loading up on jumbos, diving into multifamily and reviving dormant bridge loan programs.
Net interest margins are on the rise and banks have the green light to return more capital to shareholders, but commercial lending and consumer credit quality remain trouble spots.
A headquarters move to Boston, a core system with plenty of headroom and a CEO who admires big acquirers like M&T and the old Banknorth: All the signs are there of an ambitious bank with a plan.
Oil prices are dropping again, but some lenders think now is the time to recommit to energy lending as long as they underwrite them a certain way for certain borrowers in certain regions.
The CFPB and others believe alternative data could provide more credit to the unbanked. Small banks and credit unions, however, have lingering concerns about breaking from traditional underwriting.
U.S. C&I loan growth has dropped below that of the eurozone for the first time in six years; bank employee says Chase discriminates against fathers when it comes to family leave.
