Strategic Insights into Banking & Fintech

Truist fills leadership posts for mortgages, investments

Truist fills leadership posts for mortgages, investments

Truist Financial in Charlotte, N.C., has filled two key positions. The $565 billion-asset company said in a press release that it had promoted David Smith to lead its mortgage business. He will succeed Todd Chamberlain, who will retire on July 31. Smith, who previously worked at Keller Home Financial Services, joined Truist in January as deputy head of mortgage. Before that, he was head of the U.S. mortgage division at

June 20, 2023
Movement Mortgage buys Massachusetts lender

Movement Mortgage buys Massachusetts lender

Movement Mortgage in Indian Land, S.C., has acquired Mortgage Network in Danvers, Mass.  Movement said in a press release that the purchase should add $2 billion in annual mortgage loan volume. It increased Movement’s national retail mortgage footprint by 250 mortgage professionals and 31 offices in 27 states. The price wasn't disclosed. “We want to grow, and we look for teams and individuals in alignment with Movement’s mission to love

June 20, 2023
Federal Reserve debuts master account database

Federal Reserve debuts master account database

The Federal Reserve on Friday released a long-awaited database of financial institutions seeking access to the Fed’s payments system. The database revealed 44 requests, with 26 listed as not being federally insured for deposits. Eleven requests are from entities in Puerto Rico, while four are from Wyoming. The Fed also released a list of financial institutions that have master accounts, which provides access to services such as the automated clearing

June 17, 2023
OceanFirst to unveil cost-cutting plan in third quarter

OceanFirst to unveil cost-cutting plan in third quarter

OceanFirst Financial in Red Bank, N.J., expects operating expenses to decline by 5% to 10% beginning in the fourth quarter. The $13.6 billion-asset company made the disclosure in an investor presentation, noting that more details would be shared in the third quarter. OceanFirst’s core noninterest expense totaled $61.2 million in the first quarter. About $13.1 million of the expenses, or roughly 21%, were tied to technology. Another $2.1 million was

June 16, 2023
Customers in Pa. buys venture banking loans from FDIC

Customers in Pa. buys venture banking loans from FDIC

Customers Bancorp in West Reading, Pa., has acquired a portfolio of venture banking loans from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. The $21 billion-asset company said in a press release that it gained $631 million of loans, paying 85% of book value. Customers also said it hired 30 people from the group that originated the loans. In addition to California, the bankers are based in Austin, Texas; Boston; Chicago; Denver; Raleigh,

June 16, 2023
RBB hires East West exec as its new president

RBB hires East West exec as its new president

RBB Bancorp in Los Angeles has a new president.   The $4.1 billion-asset company said in a press release that Johnny Lee had also been named chief banking officer.   Lee previously served as head of international and commercial banking at East West Bank. He was at East West for a decade.   "We are thrilled to have Johnny join us … and look forward to his contributions to the

June 15, 2023
F&M Bank in Tenn. selects banking vet as its president

F&M Bank in Tenn. selects banking vet as its president

F&M Bank in Clarksville, Tenn., has promoted a veteran banker as its president. The $1.7 billion-asset bank said in a press release that Jim Peck had taken on the role. Peck, who joined F&M as an executive vice president in 2021, succeeded Sammy Stuard, who remains chairman and CEO. Peck “is a proven leader and team builder with an impressive resume of banking experience that spans over 30 years in

June 15, 2023
OCC orders MUFG Union to pay $15M civil money penalty

OCC orders MUFG Union to pay $15M civil money penalty

MUFG Union Bank in San Francisco, which was sold in December to U.S. Bancorp, was ordered to pay a $15 million civil money penalty for failing to waive certain charges tied to private bank and consumer accounts. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency claimed in a May 8 consent order that the bank did not waive the fees despite stating that it would in account disclosures. The OCC

June 15, 2023