Strategic Insights into Banking & Fintech

PNC, Coinbase form partnership for digital assets and banking services

PNC, Coinbase form partnership for digital assets and banking services

PNC Financial Services Group in Pittsburgh has formed a partnership with crypto platform Coinbase to offer digital asset solutions to the bank's clients and institutional investors. PNC said in a press release that it will provide banking services to Coinbase. "Partnering with Coinbase accelerates our ability to bring innovative, crypto financial solutions to our clients," William Demchak, PNC's chairman and CEO, said in the release. "This collaboration enables us to meet

July 22, 2025
San Francisco FCU agrees to buy Summit Bank in California

San Francisco FCU agrees to buy Summit Bank in California

San Francisco Federal Credit Union has agreed to buy Summit Bank in Oakland, Calif. The $1.3 billion-asset credit union said in a press release that it expects to buy the bank in the first quarter. The price of the all-cash transaction wasn't disclosed. “We are thrilled to welcome Summit Bank customers and employees to the San Francisco Federal Credit Union family,” Ray Shams, the credit union's president and CEO, said

July 22, 2025
Director or Treasury Department’s CDFI Fund resigns

Director or Treasury Department’s CDFI Fund resigns

Pravina Raghavan has resigned as the director of the Treasury Department's Community Development Financial Institutions Fund. The Treasury said in a press release that Dietrich Douglas had been named the fund's acting director. He is the fund's legal counsel. “With the best interest of the CDFI Fund, the community development finance sector, and the communities we serve in mind, I am looking forward to leading the very dedicated staff of

July 22, 2025
AmeriServ in Pa. reports 2Q loss after big CRE-related chargeoff

AmeriServ in Pa. reports 2Q loss after big CRE-related chargeoff

AmeriServ Financial in Johnstown, Pa., lost money in the second quarter after addressing its biggest problem asset. The $1.5 billion-asset company lost $282,000 in the quarter after recording a $3.1 million loan-loss provision. The provision came after the company charged off $2.8 million tied to a mixed-use commercial real estate retail/office property in the Pittsburgh market.  AmeriServ said the chargeoff was necessary to write the property down to a court-approved

July 22, 2025
ENB Financial in Pa. lines up new CEO for 2027

ENB Financial in Pa. lines up new CEO for 2027

ENB Financial in Ephrata, Pa., has set up its next CEO. The company said in a press release that Rachel Bitner will also become its president on Jan. 1, 2027. Bitner, ENB's treasurer and chief financial officer of its bank, will succeed Jeffrey Stauffer when he retires at the end of next year. "The board believes that it has developed ... an orderly and effective succession plan that will ensure

July 22, 2025
Mercantile in Mich. to buy Eastern Michigan Financial

Mercantile in Mich. to buy Eastern Michigan Financial

Mercantile Bank in Grand Rapids, Mich., has agreed to buy Eastern Michigan Financial in Croswell. The $6.2 billion-asset Mercantile said in a press release that it would pay $95.8 million in cash and stock for the $505 million-asset Eastern. The deal, which is expected to close in the fourth quarter, priced Eastern at 165% of its tangible book value. Eastern has 12 branches, $208 million loans, and $449 million of

July 22, 2025
Old National in Ind. hires Key exec as its president, COO

Old National in Ind. hires Key exec as its president, COO

Old National in Evansville, Ind., has hired an executive from KeyCorp as its president. The $71 billion-asset company said in a press release that Tim Burke had also become its chief operating officer. Burke, who oversaw the central region for Key, succeeded Mark Sander, who retired. “I’m truly thrilled to join a team that’s so deeply committed to relationship banking and making a real impact on our communities,” Burke said

July 22, 2025
Simmon First in Ark. raising $300M for potential balance sheet moves

Simmon First in Ark. raising $300M for potential balance sheet moves

Simmons First National in Pine Bluff, Ark., is planning to raise $300 million by selling common stock. The company announced in a press release that it is selling about 16.2 million shares to the public at $18.50 per share. Another 2.4 million shares could be sold if there is enough demand. Simmons plans to use the net proceeds for general corporate purposes such as investments in its bank to support

July 22, 2025