U.S. Bancorp in Minneapolis was ordered to pay fines to address issues with a pandemic-era prepaid card program for distributing unemployment benefits. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ordered the $668 billion-asset company to pay $21 million, including a $15 million penalty and $5.7 million in restitution to consumers. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency also ordered U.S. Bancorp to pay a $15 million civil money penalty. The agencies

CrossFirst Bankshares in Leawood, Kan., repositioned its securities portfolio to reduce its concentration in municipal securities.   The $7.2 billion-asset company said in a press release that it sold about $80 million of available-for-sale municipal securities at an $800,000 after-tax loss. CrossFirst plans to pay off wholesale borrowings and buy higher-yielding agency mortgage-backed products.   The moves should add about 2 cents to the company’s 2024 earnings per share, so

Fifth Third Bancorp in Cincinnati has combined the roles of chairman and CEO. The $213 billion-asset company said in a press release that Timothy Spence, its president and CEO, will become its chairman on Jan. 2. He will succeed Nicholas Akins, who will become lead independent director. Separately, Fifth Third said that Jamie Leonard will become chief operating officer on Jan. 2. He is the company’s chief financial officer. Bryan

M1 Bancshares in Clayton, Mo., has raised capital. The parent of the $978 million-asset M1 Bank brought in more than $2.6 million through a private placement of common stock, according to data compiled by Performance Trust Capital Partners. The data did not include the pricing, shares sold, or the investors.

Lincoln Bancorp in Waterloo, Iowa, has recruited a banker from New York to serve as its next CEO. The parent of the $1.9 billion-asset Lincoln Savings Bank said in a press release that Sean Willett will take on the new role on Dec. 29. Willett recently served as chief administrative officer at Five Star Bank. He succeeded Emily Girsch, who served as interim CEO and will return to her previous

CSI, a financial software company in Paducah, Ky., has acquired Hawthorn River, a St. Louis firm that offers a loan origination platform for community banks. The price wasn’t disclosed. “Lending is one of the most critical lines of revenue for community banks, yet it also is the most plagued by inefficiency and outdated technology,” David Culbertson, CSI’s president and CEO, said in the release. The acquisition “is the latest step

The CEO of the Pacific Coast Banking School has announced plans to retire. Gretchen Claflin said in a press release that she will also step down as the school’s president at the end of 2024. She was named president in 2016 and CEO two years later. The school, which partners with the University of Washington, hired Korn Ferry to have it find Claflin’s successor. “Our faculty members not only know

AmeriNational Community Services in Albert Lea, Minn., has applied to buy Northwest Bancorp. of Illinois in Palatine. AmeriNational, an economic development and affordable housing loan servicer, applied with the Federal Reserve to form a bank holding company to buy the parent of the $208 million-asset First Bank and Trust Co. of Illinois. AmeriNational also applied with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. First Bank to assume certain deposits where AmeriNational is