Strategic Insights into Banking & Fintech

Vermont credit union association selects next CEO

Vermont credit union association selects next CEO

The Association of Vermont Credit Unions has a new leader. The association promoted Carrie Allen as its president and CEO. Allen had been the AVCU's chief operations officer since August 2024. Before that, she was chief marketing and strategy officer at Heritage Family Credit Union.

January 8, 2026
Amerant in Florida sells three loans for nearly $50 million

Amerant in Florida sells three loans for nearly $50 million

Amerant Bancorp in Coral Gables, Fla., sold three loans. The company disclosed in a regulatory filing that it agreed to sell up to five loans with a total balance of $74 million to Peachtree Group. Peachtree Group ended up buying three of the loans for $49.7 million.

January 7, 2026
New buyer emerges for troubled Summit National Bank in Wyoming

New buyer emerges for troubled Summit National Bank in Wyoming

A new buyer has emerged for Summit National Bank in Hulett, Wyo. Greg Jacobson, who initially came in third place in a bankruptcy auction to buy the bank, now has a deal after the two higher bidders were unable to gain regulatory approval, according to court documents. Victor Remsha initially won the auction last summer with a bid of about $5.5 million. Mode Eleven, the bank's holding company, tried to recapitalize

January 7, 2026
Proposed Dallas de novo would have dealings in stablecoins

Proposed Dallas de novo would have dealings in stablecoins

A proposed de novo in Dallas plans to work stablecoin into its business plan. The proposed Augustus National Bank plans to have a subsidiary called Juno Moneta that would provide issuance, custody, conversion, and payment of U.S. dollar-denominated, reserve-based stablecoins, according to an application with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. The bank would be wholly owned by Augustus Holding, which already owns Ivy GmbH, a German fintech.

January 7, 2026
HNB National to buy Kearney Trust in merger of Missouri banks

HNB National to buy Kearney Trust in merger of Missouri banks

HNB National Bank in Hanibal, Mo., has agreed to buy Kearney Trust in Kearney, Mo. The $957 million-asset HNB said in a press release that it plans to buy the $313 million-asset Kearney in the second quarter. The price wasn't disclosed. “By partnering with HNB, our customers will gain access to a broader range of financial products and services,” Keith Doss, Kearney Trust's chairman, said in the release.

January 7, 2026
First Resource Bank in Minnesota passes leadership from father to son

First Resource Bank in Minnesota passes leadership from father to son

First Resource Bank in Minneapolis has new leadership. The $830 million-asset bank said in a press release that Aaron Siegle became CEO, and Charlie Anderson became president and chief operating officer on Jan. 1. Siegle succeeded his father, Tim, who remains chairman of holding company Ameri Financial Group. The elder Siegle is the bank's vice chairman. The younger Siegle was president. "Because of the willingness of our leadership to allow

January 7, 2026
Founding CEO steps aside at Integro Bank in Arizona

Founding CEO steps aside at Integro Bank in Arizona

Integro Bank in Phoenix has made a switch at the top. The bank said in a press release that Jim Malerba had become acting CEO. Malerba, a retired accountant, is on Integro's board. Malerba succeeded Thomas Inserra, who concluded his tenure with the bank on Dec. 31. "Integro Bank is entering its next chapter from a position of strength," Rick Schobert, Integro's chairman, said in the release. "We have built

January 7, 2026
Farming business buys large stake in Pacific Valley Bank in California

Farming business buys large stake in Pacific Valley Bank in California

Pacific Valley Bank in Salinas, Calif., has a new investor. Pacific Valley said in a press release that Taylor Fresh Foods, the parent company of Taylor Farms, bought a 16.3% ownership stake in the bank. The price wasn't disclosed. "For more than two decades, Pacific Valley Bank has operated as a locally owned community bank focused on relationship-based banking and disciplined growth," Anker Fanoe, Pacific Valley's CEO, said in the

January 7, 2026