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Deals•Feb 3, 2026
Columbia Financial to Acquire Northfield Bancorp for $597M
Columbia Financial, a $11 billion asset bank based in New Jersey, announced a $597 million acquisition of New York‑based Northfield Bancorp, giving Columbia its first presence in New York City. The deal, announced Monday, is expected to close in Q3 and includes a second‑step capital raise of up to $1.9 billion.
American Banker Technology
Deals•Jan 31, 2026
First Independence Bank Acquires Metropolitan Capital Bank Assets in FDIC-Facilitated Deal
The FDIC placed Metropolitan Capital Bank & Trust into receivership and entered a purchase‑and‑assumption agreement with Detroit‑based First Independence Bank, which will acquire $251 million of assets and $212.1 million in deposits. The transaction, announced on Jan. 31 2026, is expected to cost the...
American Banker Technology
Deals•Jan 28, 2026
Prosperity Bancshares to Acquire Stellar Bancorp for $2 Billion
Prosperity Bancshares announced a $2 billion cash‑and‑stock acquisition of rival Stellar Bancorp, creating the second‑largest Texas‑headquartered bank with $54 billion in assets and the top deposit share in Beaumont. The combined entity will retain the Prosperity name and the deal is expected...
American Banker Technology
News•Jan 27, 2026
BOK Counting on Mortgage Finance for a Boost in 2026
Bank of Oklahoma (BOK) Financial is banking on its mortgage‑finance unit to drive growth, aiming for $1 billion in commitments by the end of 2026. The bank projects full‑year loan growth in the high‑single‑digit range, up from 6.4% in 2025, with...
By American Banker Technology
News•Jan 27, 2026
New York State Introduces Bill Deeming EWA a Loan
New York lawmakers introduced the Stop Taking Our Pay Act, which would reclassify earned‑wage‑access (EWA) advances as loans subject to the state’s 16% interest‑rate cap. The bill also treats any associated fee, tip, or subscription cost as a finance charge,...
By American Banker Technology
News•Jan 27, 2026
Fraud Courier Sentenced for Stealing Millions From Seniors
A federal judge sentenced 23‑year‑old Indian national Atharva Shailesh Sathawane to 18 years in prison for acting as a courier in a scheme that stole more than $6.6 million from elderly investors. The fraud forced seniors to liquidate securities and purchase...
By American Banker Technology
News•Jan 27, 2026
Judge Blesses Fifth Third-Comerica Deal, Shuts Down Lawsuit
A Delaware judge rejected HoldCo Asset Management's attempt to block Fifth Third Bancorp’s $10.9 billion acquisition of Comerica, allowing the merger to proceed on schedule. The decision noted no imminent irreparable harm to shareholders and emphasized the premium benefit of the deal....
By American Banker Technology
News•Jan 27, 2026
What to Expect at American Banker's Inaugural On-Chain Summit
American Banker’s inaugural On‑Chain Finance Summit on March 19‑20 brings together senior banking executives and crypto‑industry leaders to discuss the accelerating integration of stablecoins, blockchain infrastructure, and tokenization. The event follows the passage of the GENIUS Act, which gave U.S....
By American Banker Technology
News•Jan 27, 2026
State Regulators Optimistic About Shift in Bank Supervision
State regulators welcomed the Federal Reserve’s new supervisory memo, which shifts routine bank examinations to state agencies and concentrates federal resources on material financial risks. The three‑page guidance pulls Fed examiners out of proactive oversight of subsidiaries, promising faster, more...
By American Banker Technology
News•Jan 26, 2026
Are Banks Welcoming Open Finance with Open Arms?
American Banker’s 2026 State of Open Finance Adoption report reveals that open finance is now a strategic priority for most banks, with regional institutions leading the charge. Sixty‑eight percent of regional bankers rate it as high or critical, while customer...
By American Banker Technology
News•Jan 26, 2026
What FIS Has Planned After the Global Payment Deals
FIS closed a strategic swap with Global Payments, acquiring the card‑issuing technology unit while off‑loading its merchant‑technology division. The move sharpens FIS’s focus on bank clients amid rising fintech competition. In parallel, FIS announced a bank‑centric suite of agentic AI...
By American Banker Technology
News•Jan 26, 2026
An Overhaul of US Anti-Money-Laundering Rules Is Long Overdue
The Treasury, led by Secretary Scott Bessent, is pushing a fundamental overhaul of U.S. anti‑money‑laundering (AML) rules, moving away from a checklist mindset toward outcome‑focused supervision. Citi’s Brent McIntosh argues that the current framework over‑prioritises technical minutiae, prompting costly account closures...
By American Banker Technology
News•Jan 23, 2026
Trump Pulls Back From 401(k) Use for Down Payments
President Donald Trump signaled resistance to allowing penalty‑free withdrawals from 401(k) plans for home down‑payments during his return from the World Economic Forum in Davos. He told reporters he is "not a huge fan" of the idea, noting the strong...
By American Banker Technology
News•Jan 23, 2026
Eastern Swears Off M&A Amid Activist Investor's Pressure
Eastern Bankshares’ CEO Denis Sheahan announced the bank will no longer pursue any new M&A deals, pivoting instead to organic growth and capital returns. The firm has accelerated its share‑repurchase program, buying back 635,000 shares for $12.3 million and plans another buyback...
By American Banker Technology
News•Jan 23, 2026
Goldman Sachs Announces New Roles for Minnis and Wheeler
Goldman Sachs has reshaped its global credit franchise by creating a new position for veteran partner Christina Minnis as global head of the alternatives origination group. Minnis will retain her existing roles overseeing credit, asset finance and acquisition finance, reporting...
By American Banker Technology
News•Jan 23, 2026
Ex-TD Employee Pleads Guilty to Helping Move $26M to Colombia
A former TD Bank employee, Oscar Nunez‑Flores, pleaded guilty to facilitating the laundering of roughly $27 million between the United States and Colombia. The plea adds to at least three insider convictions tied to TD’s historic anti‑money‑laundering failures that led the...
By American Banker Technology
News•Jan 23, 2026
Community Bank Bill Moves Forward, but with some Caveats
The House Financial Services Committee approved a community‑bank tailoring bill in a 33‑21 vote, proposing to index more than three dozen regulatory thresholds to nominal GDP. By tying thresholds to economic growth rather than inflation, the legislation would exempt many...
By American Banker Technology
News•Jan 23, 2026
Banks See MSR Strain Despite Strong Top-Line Results
Banks posted record top‑line earnings, yet mortgage‑servicing‑rights (MSR) valuations slipped, eroding mortgage‑banking revenue. US Bank saw an $11 million MSR valuation drop, driving a 27.8% quarterly revenue decline to $130 million. JPMorgan Chase’s net servicing revenue fell $43 million despite a modest MSR...
By American Banker Technology
News•Jan 23, 2026
Asset Servicing Gains New Importance in an Increasingly Digital World
Asset servicing, once a back‑office function, is now a strategic priority for banks as AI, blockchain and a generational wealth shift reshape the industry. BNY Mellon highlights the rise of a hybrid workforce, deploying over 100 digital employees to automate...
By American Banker Technology
News•Jan 22, 2026
Oportun CEO Vazquez to Step Down After Investor Pressure
Oportun Financial announced that long‑time CEO Raul Vazquez will step down by April 3, remaining as an advisor through July 3. The departure follows a two‑year campaign by activist investor Findell Capital, which accused Vazquez of costly acquisitions and a bloated cost...
By American Banker Technology
News•Jan 22, 2026
Huntington Eyes a Texas-Sized Growth Spurt in 2026
Huntington Bank closed its $12.7 billion Veritex deal and is finalizing the $53.5 billion Cadence acquisition, expanding its Texas footprint to 118 branches. The Texas moves are expected to lift 2026 loan growth to 11‑12% and deposit growth to 8‑9%, adding $34 billion...
By American Banker Technology
News•Jan 22, 2026
FDIC Adds Banker to Regulatory Appeals Board in Final Rule
The FDIC issued a final rule revamping its supervisory appeals process, mandating that the three‑member panel include at least one former banker alongside a supervisory‑experience member. The rule also broadens banks' appellate rights, allowing challenges to supervisory determinations that underpin...
By American Banker Technology
News•Jan 22, 2026
Crypto Cards Are Booming, but What They Mean for the Future Is Unclear
Crypto‑linked cards have surged, with monthly payment volume climbing from roughly $100 million in early 2023 to over $1.5 billion by late 2025. The growth reflects a bridge between traditional Visa/Mastercard rails and digital assets, allowing users to spend crypto at any...
By American Banker Technology
News•Jan 22, 2026
How Bank of America's Erica Does the Work of 11,000 People
Bank of America’s virtual assistant Erica now supports 42 million consumers and 40 000 business clients, handling roughly 2 million interactions daily. The bot relies on rule‑based natural‑language understanding and predictive analytics rather than large language models, enabling precise, low‑error transactions. Erica is...
By American Banker Technology
Deals•Jan 22, 2026
Rain Raises $250M in Funding Round at $2B Valuation
Stablecoin-card infrastructure provider Rain announced the closing of a $250 million funding round, valuing the company at nearly $2 billion. The round was completed earlier this month, underscoring growing investor interest in crypto-linked payment solutions.
American Banker Technology
News•Jan 21, 2026
Truist Settles 15-Year-Old Legal Saga, Causing Earnings Hit
Truist Financial agreed to settle a 15‑year overdraft‑fee class action, committing up to $240 million, including $130 million in legal fees. The settlement and $63 million in severance expenses shaved 12 cents from fourth‑quarter earnings per share, causing the bank to miss analysts’...
By American Banker Technology
News•Jan 21, 2026
Ally Beats Estimates but Sees Economic Trouble Ahead
Ally Financial posted a Q4 2025 net income of $327 million, surpassing the $313.9 million consensus, while earnings per share of $0.95 fell short of estimates. Adjusted EPS reached $1.09, reflecting one‑time layoff costs and mortgage loan sales. The lender warned that...
By American Banker Technology
News•Jan 21, 2026
Bank OZK Says Spike in Charge-Offs Is No Cause for Alarm
Bank OZK’s commercial‑real‑estate (CRE) portfolio saw net charge‑offs jump to 1.18% in Q4 2025, the highest since the financial‑crisis era. The bank had already doubled its allowance for credit losses to $632 million, cushioning profitability, which slipped 3.5% to $171.9 million for the...
By American Banker Technology
News•Jan 21, 2026
Citizens Lays Out Tech Overhaul, Says Profit Goals Are Close
Citizens Financial Group unveiled a three‑year "Reimagine the Bank" technology program that targets $450 million in annualized run‑rate benefits, yet the bank insists its profitability goals do not depend on the overhaul. The initiative, which allocates $250 million in implementation spending and...
By American Banker Technology
News•Jan 21, 2026
Fiserv Bets on Japan's Digital Initiative; Klarna Deepens Walmart Ties
Fiserv has sealed a partnership with Sumitomo Mitsui Card Company to introduce its Clover point‑of‑sale system to Japanese merchants, aligning with a government push to slash cash usage by 65% over four years. The deal, slated for late‑2026, is a...
By American Banker Technology
News•Jan 21, 2026
Justices Wary of Trump's Urgent Need to Remove Fed's Cook
The Supreme Court heard arguments on President Trump’s attempt to remove Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, questioning the breadth of presidential removal power under the Federal Reserve Act. Justices expressed skepticism toward the Justice Department’s claim that the president can...
By American Banker Technology
News•Jan 21, 2026
As CFPB Retreats, State AGs and Bank Regulators Step Up
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is pulling back from enforcement, leaving a regulatory gap that state attorneys general and banking agencies are moving to fill. States are hiring former CFPB staff and enacting laws such as New York's FAIR Act...
By American Banker Technology
News•Jan 20, 2026
Brazen Scheme Combines Fraud, Visiting Customers' Homes
Barnegat Township Police warned New Jersey residents of a hybrid fraud scheme that combines phone spoofing with a physical courier pickup to steal debit cards. Criminals pose as bank fraud agents, claim unauthorized out‑of‑state activity, and arrange a courier to...
By American Banker Technology
News•Jan 20, 2026
First Entertainment CU Launches Digital Brand in Atlanta
First Entertainment Credit Union has launched CineFi, a fully digital banking brand targeting film, TV, and other creative professionals in Atlanta and Los Angeles. Developed with fintech partner Nymbus, CineFi offers high‑yield checking and savings, round‑up savings, early direct deposit...
By American Banker Technology
News•Jan 20, 2026
Bessent Tells Banks Deregulation Makes up for 10% Rate Cap
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told banks that deregulation, which he says has unlocked $2.5 trillion of extra lending capacity, should offset the impact of President Trump’s proposed 10% credit‑card interest rate cap. He emphasized that reduced compliance costs are boosting bank...
By American Banker Technology
News•Jan 19, 2026
A 'K-Shaped' US Economy Augurs Ill for the Country's Banks
Gene Ludwig warns that the U.S. economy is increasingly K‑shaped, with roughly 60% of households stuck on the downward slope. Rising costs of essentials have pushed credit‑card debt to a record $1.23 trillion, while delinquency rates have edged up to 3.6%...
By American Banker Technology
News•Jan 16, 2026
Gould Floats Bare-Bones Resolution Planning Revamp
Comptroller Jonathan Gould urged the elimination of Covered Insured Depository Institution (CIDI) resolution plans, arguing they lack a clear statutory basis and effectively outsource the FDIC’s receiver role to banks. He highlighted that such plans failed to prevent the 2023...
By American Banker Technology
News•Jan 16, 2026
PNC's Demchak Vows to Bring the Fight From Coast to Coast
PNC Financial Services Group announced that its $4.2 billion acquisition of FirstBank will add roughly $850‑$900 million of net interest income by 2026, fueling a broader push for national scale. CEO Bill Demchak emphasized that the deal, combined with a $2 billion branch‑expansion...
By American Banker Technology
News•Jan 16, 2026
Improved Credit Quality at M&T Helps Push Earnings Higher
M&T Bank posted a fourth‑quarter net income of $759 million, up 11.5% year‑over‑year, and earnings per share of $4.67, comfortably beating the $4.44 consensus. The results were powered by a sharp decline in non‑accrual loans, which fell 26% to $1.25 billion, delivering...
By American Banker Technology
News•Jan 16, 2026
Upstate NY Lender to Buy Bank with Funeral-Planning Focus
Community Financial System of Syracuse agreed to acquire ClearPoint Federal Bank & Trust for $40 million in cash. ClearPoint, a niche bank focused on funeral‑planning trusts, reported a 2.31% return on assets, well above the 1.27% industry average. The acquisition will...
By American Banker Technology
News•Jan 16, 2026
Bilt, Affirm Aim to Capitalize on Proposed Credit Card Rate Cap
Fintechs Bilt and Affirm are rolling out new credit products as political pressure mounts on traditional bank‑issued cards. Bilt introduced three cards with a 10% APR cap for the first year, while Affirm is preparing a rent‑pay‑later offering with real‑time...
By American Banker Technology
News•Jan 15, 2026
Dip in Mortgage Rates Gives First Horizon a Boost
First Horizon’s loans to mortgage companies surged 20% in Q4 2025, adding $776 million and becoming the largest driver of its 2% total loan growth. Seasonally adjusted home sales hit a two‑year high, fueling fresh demand for warehouse financing. The bank...
By American Banker Technology
News•Jan 15, 2026
Portage Takes over Fintech Investments From Point72 Ventures
Point72 Ventures is transferring roughly 40 fintech and fintech‑adjacent investments to a $280 million continuation fund managed by Portage, the fintech arm of Sagard. The move follows CB Insights data showing that 54% of Point72’s fintech holdings have declining success probabilities and...
By American Banker Technology
Deals•Jan 15, 2026
Portage Takes Over $280M Fintech Portfolio From Point72 Ventures via Continuation Fund
Point72 Ventures announced the transfer of its fintech holdings to a $280 million continuation fund managed by Portage, the fintech arm of Sagard. Goldman Sachs Alternatives led the fund investment, and Portage will oversee roughly 40 fintech assets, with former Point72...
American Banker Technology
Deals•Jan 8, 2026
Taylor Fresh Foods Invests 16.3% Stake in Pacific Valley Bank
Pacific Valley Bank announced that Taylor Fresh Foods has acquired a 16.3% ownership stake, investing an undisclosed amount. The corporate investment will support the bank’s growth and expand its lending capacity, with Taylor Fresh Foods taking a minority, non‑controlling position.
American Banker Technology
Deals•Jan 6, 2026
Fifth Third and Comerica Secure Shareholder Approval for $10.9B Merger
Fifth Third and Comerica received near‑unanimous shareholder approval for their $10.9 billion merger, with 99.7% and 97% votes respectively. The deal still awaits Federal Reserve approval and faces a lawsuit from activist investor HoldCo Asset Management. If completed, the merger would...
American Banker Technology
Deals•Jan 1, 2026
Commerce Bancshares Completes $585M All‑stock Acquisition of FineMark Holdings
Commerce Bancshares finalized a $585 million all‑stock purchase of FineMark Holdings on New Year’s Day, expanding its wealth‑management platform to $90 billion in assets under administration. The deal marks the bank’s first acquisition in 12 years and positions it for growth in...
American Banker Technology