Strategic Insights into Banking & Fintech

Atlanta fintech Momnt taps next CEO after raising capital

Atlanta fintech Momnt taps next CEO after raising capital

Momnt, an Atlanta fintech that specializes in real-time lending and payment solutions, has a new CEO. The fintech said in a press release that it had promoted Chris Bracken, previously its chief revenue officer, to the top position. The move follows capital investments from Saluda Grade Ventures, Rockefeller Asset Management and TruStage Ventures. Bracken succeeded Barclay Keith, who was named a special adviser to the board. “Momnt is leading the

June 21, 2024
FDIC approves proposals for resolution plans, faster merger approvals

FDIC approves proposals for resolution plans, faster merger approvals

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. approved a proposal that adjusts how banks submit resolution plans. The FDIC created two tiers based on a bank’s asset size – each tier has its own set of requirements. Banks with more than $100 billion of assets must provide full “living wills” that include comprehensive resolution strategies, valuation analysis, and plans for continuity of operations. The biggest banks must also show that they can

June 20, 2024
Citi invests in Numerated as part of broader collaboration

Citi invests in Numerated as part of broader collaboration

Citigroup has invested in commercial lending platform Numerated. Citi will also engage Numerated to provide a financial spreading solution for the bank’s enterprise lending operations. The companies did not disclose the amount of the investment, which was made through Citi’s markets strategic investments unit. The investment “underscores our dedication to driving innovation on a global scale,” Katya Chupryna, director at Citi’s markets strategic investments unit, said in the release. “We

June 20, 2024
Apple abandons BNPL product Apple Pay Later

Apple abandons BNPL product Apple Pay Later

That didn’t last long. Apple announced that it is abandoning Apple Pay Later roughly a year after introducing the program. The company said in a statement that its customers using Apple Pay will be able to apply for installment loans through credit cards, debit cards and lenders later this year. “With the introduction of this new global installment loan offering, we will no longer offer Apple Pay Later in the U.S.,” the

June 18, 2024
Fintech Unit laying off 15% of its staff

Fintech Unit laying off 15% of its staff

Unit is laying off 15% of its staff. Itai Damti, the embedded finance fintech’s co-founder and CEO, announced the cuts in a post. “We believe that our company needs to think in longer time frames,” Damti said. “Banks in the fintech ecosystem have slowed down in the last year due to increased regulatory scrutiny,” he added. “While we believe that the slowness is temporary and Unit will actually benefit from

June 18, 2024
Regulatory delays lead Louisiana banks to call off merger

Regulatory delays lead Louisiana banks to call off merger

MC Bancshares in Morgan City, La., and Heritage NOLA Bancorp in Covington, La., have called off their planned merger. The $454 million-asset MC Bancshares agreed in July 2023 to buy the $171 million-asset Heritage NOLA in a roughly $6.5 million deal that was supposed to close by the end of last year. MC Bancshares withdrew its application to buy Heritage NOLA in mid-March. Regulatory delays led the banks to ultimately

June 17, 2024
ABCT Holdings in Texas raises $3 million via private placement

ABCT Holdings in Texas raises $3 million via private placement

ABCT Holdings in Woodway, Texas, raised $3.1 million through a private placement. The parent company of the $954 million-asset Alliance Bank Central Texas raised the capital by selling common stock, according to data compiled by Performance Trust Capital Partners. The number of shares sold, pricing, and investors wasn’t disclosed.

June 17, 2024
Oakwood in Texas Nixed 11th-hour Offer to Finalize Sale to Business First

Oakwood in Texas Nixed 11th-hour Offer to Finalize Sale to Business First

An eleventh-hour offer by an unnamed bank failed to sway the board of Oakwood Bancshares in Oakwood, Texas, from agreeing to sell to Business First Bancshares in Baton Rouge, La. The privately held bank sent an offer to the $843 million-asset Oakwood two days before its exclusivity period with the $6.7 billion-asset Business First was set to expire. Uncertainty over the last-minute proposal led the board to stay the course

June 17, 2024