PacWest Bancorp in Los Angeles is making a flurry of changes as it transitions to new CEO Paul Taylor. The $41.2 billion-asset company said in a press release that it shut down its premium finance and multifamily lending groups as part of a plan to focus on “relationship-based community banking.” PacWest also plans to restructure its Civic Financial Services business in a move that led to a $29 million goodwill

Northwest Community Bank in Winsted, Conn., will have a new CEO this fall. The $1.1 billion-asset bank said in a press release that Maura O’Sullivan Malo will also become its president on Sept. 1. Malo, the bank’s chief operating officer, will succeed Stephen Reilly, who is retiring. Malo was a bank examiner with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. from 1993 to 2003. Malo “has been one of our rising stars

Vista Bancshares in Dallas has agreed to buy Charis Holdings in Justin, Texas. The $1.6 billion-asset Vista said in a press release that it will buy the parent of the $258 million-asset Charis Bank for an undisclosed amount of common stock. The deal is expected to close in the second quarter. Charis has $167 million of loans and $222 million of deposits. Certain Charis directors and executive officers have entered

Century Savings Bank in Vineland, N.J., has a new CEO. The $600 million-asset bank said in a press release that David Hanrahan has succeeded David Hemple as CEO. Hanrahan was hired to serve as the bank’s president in February 2020. “I leave the bank with the same sense of optimism that marked the start of my time in this role,” Hemple said in the release. “I am confident that Dave

BM Technologies in Radnor, Pa., which tried unsuccessfully to buy a bank last year, plans to lay off about 25% of its workforce. The fintech also said in a press release that Jamie Donahue, its chief technology officer, had become its president. Donahue, who joined the company in 2020, will be responsible for leading IT, operations, product and program management and sales teams. BM Technologies said that the job cuts

Wintrust Financial in Rosemont, Ill., is preparing for a new CEO.   The $53 billion-asset company said in a press release that Ed Wehmer will retire from the post on April 30. He will become executive chairman, a position he will hold until May 23, 2024, then serve as a senior advisor until the end of 2026.   Timothy Crane, Wintrust’s President, will succeed Wehmer as CEO. Crane was appointed

Foro, a fintech that aims to pair business owners with commercial lenders, has launched after receiving financial backing from a group that includes former Bank of America CEO Hugh McColl Jr. The Charlotte, N.C., startup said in a press release that will focus on small- and midsize businesses. The plan is to reduce the initial vetting process for loan applications from 30 days to seven. The venture launched after raising

Ken Guenther, who served as president and CEO of the Independent Community Bankers of America for more than 20 years, has died. The association announced Guenther’s passing in a press release. Guenther joined the ICBA in 1979. He led the association from 1982 to 2004, when he was succeeded by Cam Fine. Guenther established a private consulting practice after leaving the ICBA. He retired in 2012.