The online lender, which focuses on high-earning millennials, is offering assurances that it will also serve Americans who make less money. But the company has not convinced critics, who say the plans are inadequate.
The city has spent more than a decade working with nonprofits and banks to encourage people to open deposit accounts. Outreach and special products have lowered the unbanked rate in San Francisco to 2.1% in 2015 from 5.9% in 2011.
Mobile remote deposit capture is said to be just the first of many tech patents the company will seek to enforce. That could cost banks that use its technologies a lot of money.
The nonprofit Bank On certifies banks that offer deposit accounts with minimal fees. It is one of many initiatives designed to bring more consumers into mainstream banking.
Aggressive restructuring moves and stock buybacks are giving CIT time to remold itself, but it will need to show core-banking growth to stave off calls for the company to sell itself.
Attractive demographics, a large supply of startups that appeared built to sell and a surplus of smaller banks struggling with high expenses have combined to make the Mid-Atlantic one of the most active regions for mergers and acquisitions.
