Strategic Insights into Banking & Fintech

Merchants in Ind., Fieldpoint in Conn. raise capital from stock sales

Merchants in Ind., Fieldpoint in Conn. raise capital from stock sales

A pair of banks raised capital from selling common stock. Merchants Bancorp in Carmel, Ind., brought in $103 million from a follow-on offering, according to data compied by Performance Trust Capital Partners. The $17.8 billion-asset company had announced plans to sell 2.4 million shares. Proceed will be used for general corporate purposes, including supporting the bank’s balance sheet growth. Separately, Fieldpoint Private Holdings in Greenwich, Conn., raised $4 million from

May 20, 2024
MountainSeed lines up $2B for more sale-leaseback transactions

MountainSeed lines up $2B for more sale-leaseback transactions

MountainSeed Real Estate in Atlanta has lined up $2 billion in capital commitments to pursue more sale-leaseback transactions with banks. The real estate investor did not disclose the potential investors. "We are excited to embark on this journey with our investors and partners to strengthen our commitment to community banks and credit unions," said Carl Streck, MountainSeed’s CEO, said in a press release. "This partnership signifies our dedication to providing

May 20, 2024
BofA to buy large multifamily portfolio from WaFd in Seattle

BofA to buy large multifamily portfolio from WaFd in Seattle

Bank of America in Charlotte, N.C., has agreed to buy a $2.9 billion multifamily portfolio from WaFd in Seattle. Bank of America will buy about 2,000 loans from WaFd, which had previously announced plans to sell loans it inherited from its receny acquisition of Luther Burbank. The loans have an aggregate balance of $3.2 billion. The sale is expected to close on June 21, after which BofA plans to enter

May 20, 2024
Tradition Capital Bank in Minn. has a new president

Tradition Capital Bank in Minn. has a new president

Tradition Capital Bank in Wayzata, Minn., has a new president. The $2.4 billion-asset bank said in a press release that Joe Bauer had taken on the role. Bauer, who previously served as the bank’s chief revenue officer, succeeded Dan Fagan, who remains CEO.

May 20, 2024
SouthState to buy Independent Bank in Texas for $2 billion

SouthState to buy Independent Bank in Texas for $2 billion

SouthState in Winter Haven, Fla., has agreed to buy Independent Bank in McKinney, Texas. The $46 billion-asset SouthState said in a press release that it will pay $2 billion in stock for the $18.9 billion-asset Independent. The deal, which is expected to close in the first quarter, priced Independent at 148% of its tangible book value. Independent has $15.7 billion of deposits and $14.6 billion of loans. “With a local,

May 20, 2024
Southside in Texas selects insider as next president

Southside in Texas selects insider as next president

Southside Bancshares in Tyler, Texas, has a new president. The $8.4 billion-asset company disclosed in a regulatory filing that Keith Donahoe had succeeded Lee Gibson, who remains CEO. Donahoe was also named president of Southside Bank. Donahoe, who joined Southside in 2021, was the bank’s regional president of central Texas. Donahoe will be paid an annual salary of $510,000.

May 17, 2024
Customers in Pa. buys interest in fintech investment fund from FDIC

Customers in Pa. buys interest in fintech investment fund from FDIC

Customers Bancorp in West Reading, Pa., bought a minority limited interest in a fintech venture fund. The $22 billion-asset company said in a press release that it successfully bid $5 million to buy the interest from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. at a roughly 70% discount to the investment’s original cost. The purchase comes about a year after Customers bought a $631 million loan portfolio from the FDIC that had

May 17, 2024
CFPB sues Solo Funds for allegedly deceptive marketing

CFPB sues Solo Funds for allegedly deceptive marketing

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has filed a lawsuit against online lending platform SoLo Funds for allegedly deceiving borrowers about the total cost of loans. The CFPB, in a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, claimed that the Los Angeles fintech, despite advertising zero-interest loans, uses “dark patterns” that “ensures that almost every borrower pays a fee in the form of a ‘tip’ or

May 17, 2024