Strategic Insights into Banking & Fintech

United Community in S.C. shedding securities after Navitas sale

United Community in S.C. shedding securities after Navitas sale

United Community Banks in Greenville, S.C., is using gains from selling its equipment finance business to purge its securities portfolio. The $28.2 billion-asset company said during a call with analysts that it is selling $2.6 billion of low-yielding securities at a roughly $300 million pretax loss. Proceeds are being redeployed into higher-yielding, shorter-duration securities. The restructuring lands in the same quarter as the $1.9 billion cash sale of United's Navitas

September 8, 2026
Activists push United Bancorp. of Alabama for board seats

Activists push United Bancorp. of Alabama for board seats

Two investment firms are escalating a push for change at United Bancorp. of Alabama in Atmore by formally requesting board seats after months of what they describe as unproductive engagement. Merion Road Capital Management and Blue Hill Advisors sent a letter to the board on Sept. 8 requesting the appointment of Aaron Sallen and Jason Blumberg as independent directors. The request follows a July 7 letter in which the firms

September 8, 2026
Huntington in Ohio taps insider as its president

Huntington in Ohio taps insider as its president

Huntington Bancshares in Columbus, Ohio, is moving ahead with succession planning. The $284 billion-asset company said in a press release that Brant Standridge had become its president. Steve Steinour remains chairman and CEO. Standridge was president of consumer and business banking. Steinour noted in the release that he plans to remain the company's leader "for several more years." "Brant is an exceptional leader with deep banking experience, strong operating discipline

September 8, 2026
QNB in Pennsylvania sells securities, unwinds pay-fixed swaps

QNB in Pennsylvania sells securities, unwinds pay-fixed swaps

QNB Corp. in Quakertown, Pa., restructured its securities portfolio. The company said in a press release that it sold $254.4 million of low-yielding securities and unwound $162 million of pay-fixed swaps, resulting in a net pretax loss of $26.2 million. The securities sold represented about 46.8% of QNB's entire portfolio. Net proceeds will be used to buy higher-yielding securities and to fund loan growth. It should take about four years

September 8, 2026
John Marshall to buy Eagle Financial in Virginia bank combination

John Marshall to buy Eagle Financial in Virginia bank combination

John Marshall Bancorp in Reston, Va., has agreed to buy Eagle Financial Services in Berryville, Va. The $2.4 billion-asset John Marshall said in a press release that it will pay $253 million in stock for the $1.8 billion-asset parent of the Bank of Clarke. The deal, which is expected to close in the first quarter, priced Eagle at 130% of its tangible book value. “Bank of Clarke has spent nearly

September 8, 2026
Brazil’s Stark Bank sheds light on proposed U.S. bank’s plans

Brazil’s Stark Bank sheds light on proposed U.S. bank’s plans

Brazilian neobank Stark Bank has applied for a U.S. national bank charter, adding another name to the growing list of fintechs seeking their own U.S. bank licenses this year. The application seeks approval to organize Stark Bank as an insured national bank based in the Miami area, with a back-office administrative location near Orlando. Neither site would be open to the public. Stark Bank already provides API-powered banking and corporate

September 8, 2026
Baker Boyer in Washington lines up its new leader

Baker Boyer in Washington lines up its new leader

Baker Boyer in Walla Walla, Wash., has completed its four-year CEO succession plan. The bank said in a press release that Kip Kontos had become its president and CEO. Kontos, who was director of regional offices and secretary, succeeded Mark Kajita, who retired and stepped down from the board. “Baker Boyer’s strength has always come from its people, its values, and its deep relationships with the communities it serves,” Megan

September 7, 2026
MidCountry Bank in Minnesota selects outsider as next CEO

MidCountry Bank in Minnesota selects outsider as next CEO

MidCountry Bank in Bloomington, Minn., has a new leader. The $1.1 billion-asset bank said in a press release that Jim Loe had become its president and CEO. Loe, who previously served as the president and CEO of Community Resource Bank, succeeded Steve Meads, who is retiring at the end of this year. “Jim is an accomplished industry leader who understands the importance of building strong relationships with customers, area businesses,

September 7, 2026