Strategic Insights into Banking & Fintech

Group applies to open new commercial bank in SoCal

Group applies to open new commercial bank in SoCal

Organizers are planning a de novo bank in Culver City, Calif. A group filed an application earlier this year with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. for Culver Community Bank. The Bank Slate recently obtained the redacted version of the application. Benjamin Donel is listed as the proposed bank’s chairman. He is the managing member of Sunset Equity Funding, a private asset firm that buys loans that are in default and

March 23, 2024
Organizers propose Korean-American bank in Los Angeles

Organizers propose Korean-American bank in Los Angeles

A group of Korean-Americans is looking to form a new bank in Los Angeles. Organizers of QIB Bank applied on March 8 with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. The group is looking to raise $35 million to form a minority-depository institution. “The bank intends to operate as a full-service commercial bank providing a wide range of traditional banking products and services to businesses and individuals in its market area, with

March 23, 2024
SaviBank in Washington to sell to Harborstone Credit Union

SaviBank in Washington to sell to Harborstone Credit Union

Savi Financial in Mount Vernon, Wash., which once explored forming a second bank, will instead sell its bank to Harborstone Credit Union in Lakewood, Wash. The $1.9 billion-asset Harborstone will pay an $16 to $17 a share in cash for the $593 million-asset SaviBank. The deal is expected to close in the fourth quarter. Savi Financial will liquidate and dissolve and distribute its remaining assets to its investors after the

March 23, 2024
Proposed Houston de novo secures conditional FDIC approval

Proposed Houston de novo secures conditional FDIC approval

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. has given conditional approval for a new bank in Houston. Organizers of the proposed Integrity Bank must raise $37 million prior to opening, according to the FDIC’s order. Integrity plans to operate as a state-chartered savings bank. The group of 19 organizers originally applied with the FDIC in June 2023. Charles Neff Jr. would serve as chairman and CEO; Hazem Ahmed would be the proposed

March 21, 2024
Former OneWest director joins New York Community board

Former OneWest director joins New York Community board

New York Community in Hicksville has appointed a director with experience serving on a bank board. The $114.1 billion-asset company disclosed in a regulatory filing that Alan Frank will also stand for election at this year’s annual meeting. He will serve as chairman of the audit committee. Frank, who spent 40 years at Deloitte & Touche, was a director of OneWest Bank when it was sold to CIT Group. He

March 20, 2024
Crypto custody firm Bakkt taps director as next CEO

Crypto custody firm Bakkt taps director as next CEO

Bakkt Holdings in Alpharetta, Ga., selected one of its directors to become its next CEO. The crypto custody firm said in a press release that Andy Main will also become president on March 26. He will succeed Gavin Michael, who will step down to pursue other opportunities. Michael will serve in an advisory role through March 2025 to assist with leadership transition and advise the board and executive team on

March 20, 2024
Air Force FCU to rebrand as Soarian Credit Union

Air Force FCU to rebrand as Soarian Credit Union

Air Force Federal Credit Union in San Antonio will rebrand as Soarian Credit Union on April 2. The $663 million-asset credit union said in a press release that the new name combines “soar” and “orion.” “After an extensive strategic process, and research that uncovered name confusion in our markets, our board … chose to rebrand ourselves,” Ryan Ross, the credit union’s CEO, said in the release. “We believe this new

March 20, 2024
Two fintechs to pay big penalties to address claims tied to PPP

Two fintechs to pay big penalties to address claims tied to PPP

A pair of fintech agreed to pay a total of $59 million to settle claims by the Federal Trade Commission that they misled small businesses pursuing funds from the Paycheck Protection Program. Biz2Credit will pay $33 million to resolve allegations its overpromised on PPP turnaround times. While the company claimed it could process applications, on average, in 10 to 14 business days, the FTC said that average was more than

March 19, 2024