Community banking

Cross River chief prepares for PPP encore

12/28/20

Gilles Gade, one our community bankers to watch in 2021, led an effort that made Cross River Bank one of the biggest Paycheck Protection Program participants. He is ready for his team to pick up where it left off when the new stimulus package kicks in.

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Small bank, startup join forces on compliance tech

12/28/20

Coastal Community in Washington is an investor in and the first client of Synctera, a software company that aims to help community banks manage their fintech relationships, including regulatory obligations.

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Farmers & Merchants expanding in northeast Indiana with Ossian deal

12/22/20

The company will pay $20 million in cash for a bank with two branches and $58 million of loans.

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FDIC report suggests M&A has been positive for many small banks

12/16/20

The agency’s second in-depth study of the community banking sector pointed to continued challenges for local institutions from the pandemic and other headwinds, but many smaller banks are reaping the benefits of M&A and holding their own against larger competitors in key lending categories.

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PSB to expand in southeastern Wisconsin with Sunset Bank deal

12/16/20

The company agreed will pay nearly $10 million for Sunset parent Waukesha Bankshares.

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ICBA replaces 2021 in-person convention with virtual event

12/15/20

The Independent Community Bankers of America had planned to hold its annual conference in Hawaii before the coronavirus pandemic hit.

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Commercial lending push at Black-owned banks gets results

12/13/20

The architects of two major loan deals featuring Black banks, one involving multiple lenders and a pro sports franchise and another backed by Citigroup, say more transactions like these are in the works.

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2020 was a horrible guest, but an excellent teacher

12/11/20

The events of this year transformed banking, for better or worse. Smart bankers will build on the ways they learned to do their jobs better.

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Ag lenders fear reduced government aid for farmers in 2021

12/10/20

The Biden administration could curtail federal support for farmers, even with bankruptcies and requests for loan workouts on the rise. Banks are hoping that increases in crop prices and exports to China could help avert a credit crisis.

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Cecil Bank taps Baltimore-area banking veteran as next CEO

12/09/20

Bill Knott succeeded Terrie Spiro as leader of the Maryland bank, which raised capital in 2017 by going through a complicated bankruptcy process.

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