Strategic Insights into Banking & Fintech

Figure-affiliated SPAC scraps plan to buy a bank

Figure-affiliated SPAC scraps plan to buy a bank

Figure Acquisition Corp. I, a SPAC that was in talks to buy a bank, plans to cease operations after the New York Stock Exchange decided to delist the company. The SPAC, which is affiliated with blockchain firm Figure Technologies, disclosed in a regulatory filing that it does not intend to appeal the NYSE’s determination. The plan is for the SPAC to redeem all of its Class A common stock on

December 22, 2022
Republic First in Pa. replaces Madonna with permanent CEO

Republic First in Pa. replaces Madonna with permanent CEO

Republic First Bancorp in Philadelphia has a new CEO. The $5.7 billion-asset company said in a press release that Tom Geisel was also named president, effective immediately. He was also added to First Republic’s board. Geisel, who was recently president of corporate banking at Webster Financial, succeeded Harry Madonna, who had been serving as interim CEO. The company also said the Mike Harrington has become its chief financial officer. He

December 22, 2022
Stone Bancshares in Ark. to be sold to private investors

Stone Bancshares in Ark. to be sold to private investors

The Combs family has agreed to buy Stone Bancshares in Mountain View, Ark. The family will pay an undisclosed amount of cash for the parent of the $643 million-asset Stone Bank, according to Talk Business & Politics. The deal is expected to close in the first quarter. Stone, which has six branches, was created in 2009 when an investor group bought and rebranded Bank of Altheimer. The bank has national

December 21, 2022
Former BOK Financial CEO to retire from board

Former BOK Financial CEO to retire from board

Steven Bradshaw, who retired as BOK Financial’s CEO earlier this year, will retire from the Tulsa, Okla., company’s board at the end of this year. The $43.6 billion-asset company disclosed in a regulatory filing that Bradshaw will step down as a director on Dec. 31. Bradshaw was BOK Financial’s leader for eight years before retiring on Jan. 1. He was succeeded by Stacy Kymes, who was the company’s chief operating

December 21, 2022
Mid Penn to enter central N.J. with acquisition

Mid Penn to enter central N.J. with acquisition

Mid Penn Bancorp in Harrisburg, Pa., has agreed to buy Brunswick Bancorp in New Brunswick, N.J. The $4.3 billion-asset Mid Penn said in a press release that it will pay $53.9 million in cash and stock for the $382 million-asset Brunswick. The deal, which is expected to close in the second quarter, priced Brunswick at 120% of its tangible book value. The acquisition will give Mid Penn its first branches

December 20, 2022
Alabama One agrees to buy First Bank in Alabama

Alabama One agrees to buy First Bank in Alabama

Alabama One Credit Union in Tuscaloosa has agreed to buy First Bank in Wadley, Ala. The $956.8 million-asset credit union plans to buy the $130 million-asset bank from Peoples Independent Bancshares in Boaz, Ala., for an undisclosed amount. Peoples Independent will retain its other bank, Peoples Independent Bank. The deal is expected to close in the second quarter. First Bank has five branches. "Over time, we've seen many banks move

December 20, 2022
VWF in Ohio close to completing its CEO succession

VWF in Ohio close to completing its CEO succession

VWF Bancorp in Van Wert, Ohio, will soon have a new CEO. The $145.8 million-asset company disclosed in a regulatory filing that Michael Cahill will also become its president on Jan. 1. Cahill will also join VWF’s board. Cahill will succeed Mark Schumm, who will become chief risk officer. Cahill has been serving as a consultant to the bank since September. VWF had disclosed earlier this year as part of

December 20, 2022
Wells to pay $3.7B to address several CFPB issues

Wells to pay $3.7B to address several CFPB issues

Wells Fargo in San Francisco entered into a new consent order and agreed to pay more than $3.7 billion to settle a range of claims by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The $1.9 trillion-asset Wells will pay more than $2 billion in redress to consumers and a $1.7 billion civil penalty to address the CFPB’s concerns with auto lending, mortgages and deposit accounts. The CFPB had claimed that Wells has

December 20, 2022