Strategic Insights into Banking & Fintech

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
Planned Houston de novo to have wealth management focus

Planned Houston de novo to have wealth management focus

A proposed de novo bank in Houston plans to have a big focus on trust and wealth management services. Organizers of Houston Bank of Commerce & Trust also plan to raise $30 million to $40 million of initial capital, according to their latest application with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. The group initially applied with the FDIC in February 2022. Mark Jacobs, former Houston area president for Regions Bank, would

June 15, 2023
Investor group plans to buy Southern Bankshares in Ga.

Investor group plans to buy Southern Bankshares in Ga.

An investor group has agreed to buy Southern Bankshares in Claxton, Ga. The group planning to buy the $160 million-asset company is led by individuals from Jacksonville, Fla. A press release gave no more information on the group. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter. The price wasn’t disclosed. Philip Williams, the company’s president and CEO, will remain in a senior leadership role. “What an exciting time

June 15, 2023
Atlantic Union in Va. plans layoffs, indirect auto exit

Atlantic Union in Va. plans layoffs, indirect auto exit

Atlantic Union Bankshares in Richmond, Va., plans to lay off 4% of its staff and exit indirect auto lending as part of a broader series of expense cuts. The $20.1 billion-asset company disclosed in a regulatory filing that the job cuts will take place by the end of July. Atlantic Union also said it is renegotiating certain third-party contracts and reducing corporate office space by terminating leases. The company said

June 15, 2023
BaaS platform Synapse lays off a fifth of its staff

BaaS platform Synapse lays off a fifth of its staff

Synapse, a Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) platform, is laying off nearly a fifth of its staff. The company made cuts in areas “that were staffed for unrealized growth or redundancy,” founder and CEO Sankaet Pathak said in a Medium post. “The current macroeconomic conditions have begun to impact our clients and platforms, affecting our anticipated growth,” he added. Synapse reached profitability and became cash flow positive last year. Streamlining operations should make

June 14, 2023
SECU in North Carolina taps insider as new CEO

SECU in North Carolina taps insider as new CEO

State Employees’ Credit Union in Raleigh, N.C., has a new CEO. The $50 billion-asset credit union said in a press release that Leigh Brady had succeeded Jim Hayes, who resigned to become CEO of State Department Federal Credit Union in Alexandria, Va. Leigh has been SECU’s chief operating officer since 2021. “No one understands SECU better than Leigh Brady,” Chris Ayers, the credit union’s chairman, said in the release. “She

June 14, 2023