Strategic Insights into Banking & Fintech

Coastal in Wash. hires fintech vet to run BaaS division

Coastal in Wash. hires fintech vet to run BaaS division

Coastal Financial in Everett, Wash., has a new president for its fintech and Banking-as-a-Service division. The $4 billion-asset company said in a press release that it bifurcated the bank president role by appointing Brian Hamilton, a Coastal director, to lead CCBX. Curt Queyrouze, president of the company and the bank, will serve as president of the community bank division. “As Coastal focuses on growing CCBX, we continuously seek out individuals

October 3, 2024
CU WealthNext invests in fractional real estate investing platform Concreit

CU WealthNext invests in fractional real estate investing platform Concreit

CU WealthNext, a credit union-owned fintech, has invested in Concreit, a fractional real estate investing platform. CU WealthNext, which did not disclose the size of its investment, said in a press release that Concreit is preparing to pilot its platform with credit unions. The investment "is a key milestone in our journey to deliver affordable, accessible, and innovative wealth solutions to credit union members," Joshua Herman, CU WealthNext's CEO, said

October 3, 2024
TruWest Credit Union in Ariz. selects insider as its new CEO

TruWest Credit Union in Ariz. selects insider as its new CEO

TruWest Credit Union in Scottsdale, Ariz., has a new CEO. The $1.8 billion-asset credit union said in a press release that Chris Kearney succeeded Alan Althouse, who retired. Kearney will remain TruWest's president. Kearney has been president and chief information officer since 2023. “Chris has consistently demonstrated his ability to drive innovation and inspire our teams to deliver exceptional service,” Althouse said in the release. “After working closely with Chris

October 3, 2024
Proxy adviser ISS: Territorial investors should reject sale to Hope Bancorp

Proxy adviser ISS: Territorial investors should reject sale to Hope Bancorp

Institutional Shareholder Services has recommended that Territorial Bancorp shareholders reject the Honolulu company's pending sale to Hope Bancorp in Los Angeles. The proxy advisory firm also made comments supportive of an unsolicited bid for the $2.2 billion-asset Territorial by a group that includes banking veteran Allan Landon and Blue Hill Advisors. "Given the lack of a robust sales process, the fact that the merger agreement restrictions accepted by the board

October 3, 2024
Proposed Sikh-focused bank gains FDIC conditional approval

Proposed Sikh-focused bank gains FDIC conditional approval

Five Rivers Bank, a proposed de novo being formed by a group of Sikh-Americans, has gained conditional approval from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. The Paramus, N.J., group applied with the FDIC in September 2023. The agency is requiring organizers to raise $33.5 million before the bank can open. While Five Rivers would focus on the needs of Sikh-American individuals and businesses, it will also “develop a service culture and

October 3, 2024
First Foundation in Dallas sets stage to sell $1.9M of multifamily loans

First Foundation in Dallas sets stage to sell $1.9M of multifamily loans

First Foundation in Dallas has begun the process of purging multifamily loans from its balance sheet. The $13.6 billion-asset company said in a press release that it reclassified about $1.9 million of loans from held to maturity to held for sale. The company said it expects fair-value pricing for the loans to surpass 92% based on recent pricing for Southern California-focused multifamily loans and "renewed optimism for lower rates." The

October 3, 2024
Affordable housing loan servicer gains BHC for planned Illinois bank deal

Affordable housing loan servicer gains BHC for planned Illinois bank deal

AmeriNational Community Services in Albert Lea, Minn., received Federal Reserve approval to form a bank holding company so it can buy Northwest Bancorp. of Illinois in Palatine. AmeriNational, an economic development and affordable housing loan servicer, applied with the Fed late last year as part of its plan to buy the parent of the $215 million-asset First Bank and Trust Co. of Illinois. "AmeriNat has operated in a complex and

October 2, 2024
Abri Credit Union in Ill. promotes executive to serve as CEO

Abri Credit Union in Ill. promotes executive to serve as CEO

Abri Credit Union in Romeoville, Ill., has a new CEO. The $400 million-asset Abri said in a press release that Colleen Brooks had also become its president. Brooks, who was the credit union's senior vice president of administration, succeeded Brian Cedergren, who retired. "I am profoundly grateful to our board ... for their confidence as well as my family and friends for their unwavering support," Brooks wrote in a LinkedIn

October 2, 2024