Strategic Insights into Banking & Fintech

Bank of Hawaii promotes insider to become its president

Bank of Hawaii promotes insider to become its president

Bank of Hawaii in Honolulu has a new president.   The company disclosed in a regulatory filing that James Polk has taken on the role. Polk, who was vice chairman and chief banking officer, succeeded Peter Ho, who remains chairman and CEO.   Polk, who joined Bank of Hawaii in 1999, gained responsibility for retail banking and the branch banking and contact center – giving him oversight for all of

July 19, 2024
Fulton Financial in Pa. to close 13 branches in Penn., New Jersey

Fulton Financial in Pa. to close 13 branches in Penn., New Jersey

Fulton Financial in Lancaster, Pa., plans to close 13 branches in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The company disclosed in a regulatory filing that the branches will close by Nov. 22. The board approved the closures plan as part of the bank's integration of the failed Republic First Bank. Fulton said it expects to incur pretax costs of about $10 million in the third quarter, including $6 million of writeoffs of

July 18, 2024
Synovus posts Q2 loss after restructuring its bond portfolio

Synovus posts Q2 loss after restructuring its bond portfolio

Synovus Financial in Columbus, Ga., posted a net loss in the second quarter after purging its securities portfolio. The $60 billion-asset company lost $14.7 million in the quarter, a reversal from the $173.9.8 million it earned a year earlier. Synovus sold $257 million of bonds during the quarter at a discount. The company plans to reinvest the proceeds into higher-yielding investments and loans. The net interest margin, which widened by

July 18, 2024
Mortgage lending veteran to buy Greenwoods State Bank in Wis.

Mortgage lending veteran to buy Greenwoods State Bank in Wis.

A mortgage banking veteran has agreed to buy Greenwoods Financial Group in Lake Mills, Wis. The $575 million-asset parent of Greenwoods State Bank said in a press release that it agreed to sell itself to Christopher M. George. The deal is expected to close in the first quarter. The price wasn't disclosed.  “I look forward to working with ... the entire Greenwoods team to assist in expanding the bank’s footprint

July 17, 2024
Discover strikes deal to sell private student loan portfolio

Discover strikes deal to sell private student loan portfolio

Discover Financial Services in Riverwoods, Ill., has agreed to sell its private student loan portfolio to strategic partnerships that involve Carlyle and KKR. Discover said in a press release that Firstmark Services, a division of Nelnet, would assume responsibility for servicing the $10.1 billion portfolio following the sale. The purchase price will have a premium to the principal balance of the portfolio and, based on certain assumptions, is expected to

July 17, 2024
Capital One unveils $265B community plan for Discover acquisition

Capital One unveils $265B community plan for Discover acquisition

Capital One Financial Group in McLean, Va., has pledged $265 billion over the next five years to support underserved markets as part of its $35 billion purchase of Discover Financial Services. Capital One agreed to maintain its lending to low- and moderate-income consumers and communities at $200 billion over the five-year period. The company will maintain 30% of branches and cafes in LMI neighborhoods. The company also pledged to retain

July 17, 2024
Firstbanc of Alabama signs sale-leaseback agreement

Firstbanc of Alabama signs sale-leaseback agreement

Firstbanc of Alabama in Talladega has agreed to a sale-leaseback transaction with MountainSeed Real Estate Services. The parent of the $1 billion-asset First Bank of Alabama will sell four branches for about $7.8 million. The bank will lease the offices for an initial 15-year term with the option to extend the lease for another 15 years. The rates were not disclosed. “MountainSeed has been a great partner to the bank

July 17, 2024
Currency Bank in La. selects insider as new CEO

Currency Bank in La. selects insider as new CEO

Currency Bank in Oak Grove, La., has a new president and CEO. Scott Gaudin announced on his LinkedIn page that he had also become president and CEO of Axxess Partners, the holding company for the $186 million-asset bank. Gaudin, who was chief lending officer, succeeded Charles Chiasson.

July 16, 2024