Strategic Insights into Banking & Fintech

BCB in N.J. to record writedown tied to cannabis relationship

BCB in N.J. to record writedown tied to cannabis relationship

BCB Bancorp in Bayonne, N.J., will take some credit-related hits in the first quarter. The company disclosed in a regulatory filing that it will take a $15.1 million pretax writedown tied to an "isolated" cannabis-related real estate owned property. After charging off $12.7 million in the third quarter tied to the relationships, BCB determined that another writedown was warranted. The company will also record $16.4 million in separate net chargeoffs

January 16, 2026
Community State Bank in Pa. lines up next CEO

Community State Bank in Pa. lines up next CEO

Community State Bank in Orbisonia, Pa., has finalized its CEO succession. The $400 million-asset bank said in a press release that Nicole Wilson will succeed Michael Bibak as president on Feb. 2. She will then become CEO when Bibak retires at the end of the year. Wilson is the bank's chief financial officer. “Though Mike’s tenure with Community State Bank has been relatively short, his impact has been significant,” Jessice

January 16, 2026
High Plains Banking to buy First National Bank of Hugo in Colorado

High Plains Banking to buy First National Bank of Hugo in Colorado

High Plains Banking Group in Flagler, Colo., has agreed to buy First National Bank of Hugo in Colorado. The parent of the $446 million-asset High Plains Bank expects to buy the $146.3 million-asset First National in the first or second quarter, according to an announcement by Olsen Palmer, which represented High Plains. The price wasn't disclosed. High Plains Bank has five branches, while First National has three locations.

January 15, 2026
Cashmere Valley in Wash. to buy back $15M of stock via tender offer

Cashmere Valley in Wash. to buy back $15M of stock via tender offer

Cashmere Valley Bank in Cashmere, Wash., will buy back $15 million worth of stock under a tender offer. The bank said in a press release that it expects to repurchase about 200,000 shares of common stock at $75 each. The shares represent about 5.1% of the bank's outstanding stock. The purchase price represents a roughly 11.1% premium above the market price on Dec. 4. Based on a preliminary count, the

January 15, 2026
Community Financial System to buy death care industry specialist ClearPoint

Community Financial System to buy death care industry specialist ClearPoint

Community Financial System in Syracuse, N.Y., has agreed to buy ClearPoint Federal Bank & Trust in Batesville, Ind. The $16 billion-asset Community Financial System said in a press release that it will pay $40 million in cash for the $131.5 million-asset ClearPoint. The deal is expected to close in the second quarter. ClearPoint is a national leader in trust administration for the death care industry, with more than $1.5 billion

January 15, 2026
Checkout.com gets conditional approval for special Georgia charter

Checkout.com gets conditional approval for special Georgia charter

Checkout.com is the latest payments company to receive a special-purpose banking charter in Georgia. The payments processor said in a press release that it was approved for a merchant acquirer limited purpose bank charter. Conditional approval includes certain stipulations that must first be met. “Securing the charter allows Checkout.com to accelerate plans to operate as its own acquirer in the U.S.,” the company said. “This move underscores a significant expansion of

January 13, 2026
Metamore State Bank in Ohio rebrands as Bank419

Metamore State Bank in Ohio rebrands as Bank419

Metamora State Bank in Toledo, Ohio, has rebranded. The $98 million-asset community bank said in a Facebook video that it is now Bank419. The name reflects the market's area code. “We needed a name to reflect our commitment to all of northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan, not just one town,” Kathleen Fischer, the bank’s CEO, said in the video. “We needed a name that would grow with us while keeping us

January 13, 2026
United Roosevelt in N.J. to convert to stock-owned company

United Roosevelt in N.J. to convert to stock-owned company

United Roosevelt MHC in Carteret, N.J., is planning to convert from a mutual organization to a stock-owned company. The $352.6 million-asset mutual said in regulatory filings that it plans to form United Roosevelt Bancorp. Janney Montgomery Scott will help the company market its common stock. The company plans to sell 1.5 million to 2 million shares at $10 each, with expected proceeds of $14.9 million to $20.1 million. After funding

January 13, 2026