Community banking

Federal overhaul of M&A rules could favor small-bank deals

09/13/20

Justice Department officials have embarked on a rewrite of antitrust policy that could waive certain requirements for community bank mergers and provide fewer advantages to large, out-of-town buyers and banks in urban areas.

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Ohio mutual lines up deal for southern Virginia bank

09/11/20

First Mutual Holding has agreed to buy Martinsville First Savings Bank, which will retain its charter, brand and management team.

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Amalgamated in New York to form holding company

09/10/20

The bank said the move will provide more flexibility raising capital and more options when it comes to pursuing bank acquisitions.

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Community banks get on board with bots

09/10/20

Robotic process automation is normally the province of large banks, but Extraco Banks in Texas and Carter Bank in Virginia are training bots to perform repetitive, mind-numbing tasks.

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Activist lawsuit a reminder for banks to tread carefully in proxy fights

09/09/20

Driver Management, a bank investor, alleges that First United in Maryland made false claims and improperly lobbied lawmakers to keep its nominees off the board. The bank asserts that it acted properly in response to an attempted hostile takeover.

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Most loans in Fed's Main Street program exceed $1 million

09/08/20

Only one of the 118 loans bought by the Federal Reserve through Aug. 31 was close to the $250,000 minimum in the rescue program, aimed small to midsize businesses hurt by the pandemic.

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Can multimillion-dollar pledge to Black banks help close wealth gap?

09/04/20

A New York CDFI is halfway to its $100 million fundraising goal for a fund that would put deposits in Black-owned banks and make loans to key businesses or projects. It hopes the moves will improve availability of capital and access to mainstream financial products.

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Bogota Financial to acquire Gibraltar Bank

09/03/20

The New Jersey company will add three branches in the northern part of the state as part of the transaction.

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Midland States in Illinois to close 13 branches

09/03/20

The company also plans to shed some corporate office space by the end of this year.

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Even in pandemic, small banks forge ahead with core conversions

09/03/20

Many community banks, like Peoples Community in Wisconsin, say they proceeded despite the technological challenges presented by social distancing because the crisis has exposed the shortcomings of their digital systems.

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