Regions Sees Profits Grow as Business Lending Picks Up
Regions Financial Corp. posted a stronger first‑quarter, with net income up 14% to $559 million and adjusted earnings of $539 million, driven by robust commercial and CRE loan growth. Credit quality improved, allowing the allowance for credit losses to shrink to $91 million, down from $124 million a year earlier. The bank sold $900 million of lower‑yielding securities to fund higher‑yielding assets, boosting spread income. CEO John Turner expects further gains in loan performance and deposit growth through 2026.
Fifth Third CEO on Comerica Integration: So Far, so Good
Fifth Third Bank says its integration of Comerica is progressing ahead of schedule and on track to meet its cost‑saving targets. The bank aims to generate $360 million of net savings this year and lift that to an $850 million annual run‑rate by...
Lawmakers Spar over GSE Credit Score Modernization Plans
The House Financial Services Committee heard testimony on the GSEs’ plan to modernize credit scoring by eventually adding both VantageScore and FICO 10T to mortgage underwriting. Industry advocates argue the new models will increase competition, while consumer groups warn that premature...
This Means (Economic) War
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent signaled that if diplomatic talks with Iran collapse, the administration will launch an intensified economic campaign, leveraging sanctions as a “financial bombing” strategy. The move comes as the International Energy Agency warns Europe faces a...
Banks Won't Get Serious About Climate Risk Until GSEs Make Them
Former FHFA chief economist Alexei Alexandrov argues that climate risk in U.S. mortgages will only be addressed when the government‑sponsored enterprises (GSEs) embed forward‑looking insurance costs into underwriting. Escalating flood and wildfire exposure is already driving higher premiums and pressuring...
The Local Bank Branch Is Not Quite Dead
Bank branches are not dead; major lenders like JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America continue to open new locations despite a wave of closures in smaller towns. The physical lobby is evolving into a lounge‑style space, emphasizing relationship‑building over traditional...
Better Credit Quality Lets M&T Lean Into Buybacks
M&T Bank reported a stronger first‑quarter, with net income up 14% to $664 million and earnings per share of $4.13, beating expectations. Credit quality improved markedly, as charge‑offs fell to $105 million, the lowest level since early 2024, allowing the bank to...
Fed's Barr Says Tariffs, Geopolitics Weigh on Rural Areas
Federal Reserve Governor Michael Barr warned that recent tariff shifts and the Iran‑related conflict are creating short‑term cost pressures for rural America, especially in agriculture. He highlighted a 38% drop in U.S. soybean shipments to China, a 55% surge in...
Cornerstone Capital Bank Adds Employee Stock Ownership Plan
Cornerstone Capital Bank announced a qualified employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) that gives staff a direct stake in its privately held parent company. The plan, limited to internal employees and affiliates, follows years of preparation and is positioned as a...
Exclusive: HSBC Extends Tokenized Deposit Service to US
HSBC is extending its tokenized deposit service to the United States, adding the market to the four regions where the product already operates—Hong Kong, Singapore, Luxembourg and the U.K. The on‑chain offering lets corporate clients move money instantly across domestic and...
ICBA Outlines Wins, Concerns in Housing Policy Push
The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) welcomed parts of the House’s Housing for the 21st Century Act that promote tiered examinations for smaller lenders, while flagging gaps in the Senate’s small‑loan incentive proposal, which lacks clear funding and sets...
Former Fed Official Argues Against Fed Independence
Former Fed Vice Chair for Supervision Randal Quarles told a Shadow Open Market Committee audience that the legal shield preventing presidential removal of Board members should be scrapped, but argued the Fed’s decentralized structure would still keep monetary policy insulated from...
Securitize Appoints Former SEC Official as President
Securitize has appointed former SEC Markets and Trading Director Brett Redfearn as its president and board member, bolstering the firm’s regulatory credentials ahead of a planned public listing. The tokenization fintech is pursuing a SPAC merger that values the company...
FBI: Real Estate Cyberfraud Rises with More AI, Crypto Scams
The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center reported that real‑estate cybercrime losses surged to $275 million in 2025, a 59 percent rise from the previous year. AI‑enabled scams and cryptocurrency fraud accounted for a growing share of the losses, with 115 AI‑related incidents...
BayCom in California Replaces Its Senior Leadership Team
BayCom Corp., a $2.6 billion‑asset bank based in Walnut Creek, announced an abrupt overhaul of its senior leadership, replacing its long‑time CEO, COO and CFO with three former PacWest Bancorp executives. The new team—William Black as executive vice‑chairman, Christopher Baron as...