Strategic Insights into Banking & Fintech

Encore in Ark. to bank community associations

Encore in Ark. to bank community associations

Encore Bank in Little Rock, Ark., has hired a banker to create a business line geared toward community associations. The $1.8 billion-asset bank said in a press release that Patti DuBuque will oversee the new division as director of association banking. DuBuque "is a results-oriented leader with proven success in expanding orientations and surpassing business growth objectives," Burt Hicks, Enocre's president and chief strategy and growth officer, said in the release. “We

July 5, 2022
Columbia in Wash. to enter Utah after banker hires

Columbia in Wash. to enter Utah after banker hires

Columbia Banking System in Tacoma, Wash., will enter Utah after hiring commercial bankers in Salt Lake City. The $21 billion-asset company said in a press release Tuesday that it hired Jeffrey Thomas and James Divver to join its business lending division. The bankers will be responsible for building a team in the market."Our expansion into Utah is a logical extension of our growing Western footprint and a timely opportunity to enter one of

July 5, 2022
‘The Girl Banker’ lands market president role in Arkansas

‘The Girl Banker’ lands market president role in Arkansas

A banker well known for her advocacy for women in the financial services industry has landed a new job.First Community Bank in Batesville, Ark., said in a press release Tuesday that it had hired Natalie Bartholomew as its community president in Rogers, Ark. Bartholomew will be responsible for establishing the bank’s presence in the market, which will include hiring a team and building relationships with area businesses. The $2.1 billion-asset bank is

July 5, 2022
Revolut promotes insider to run U.S. operations

Revolut promotes insider to run U.S. operations

Revolut has named an insider to oversee the neobank’s efforts in the United States. The company said in a press release that Sid Jajodia is its U.S. CEO. Jajodia will remain Revolut’s chief banking officer, a role he has held since joining the company a year ago. Revolut launched in the U.S. in March 2020, offering financial services to retail and business customers that include banking, foreign exchange, crypto and stock

July 5, 2022
How rising rates impacted pricing of a Fla. bank deal

How rising rates impacted pricing of a Fla. bank deal

Rising interest rates led Seacoast Banking Corp. of Florida in Stuart to reduce its offer for Drummond Banking Co. in Chiefland, Fla., by more than 10%. The $10.9 billion-asset Seacoast agreed in early May to buy the $985 million-asset Drummond for $173.2 million in stock.  Seacoast proposed paying $194.4 million in cash and stock when it sent its first pitch to Drummond on March 12, according to a regulatory filing tied

July 5, 2022
Pinnacle in Nebraska to buy Crockett National in Texas

Pinnacle in Nebraska to buy Crockett National in Texas

Pinnacle Bancorp in Lincoln, Neb., has agreed to buy Crockett National Bank in San Antonio, Texas. The $7.6 billion-asset Pinnacle said that its purchase of the $630 million-asset Crockett National should close in the second half of this year. The price wasn’t disclosed. Crockett National has five branches and two loan-production offices. Todd Huckabee, Crockett National’s CEO, will become a regional president at Pinnacle.

July 5, 2022
First Bank of Highland Park in Illinois rebrands

First Bank of Highland Park in Illinois rebrands

First Bank of Highland Park in Illinois has changed its name to First Bank Chicago.The $1.9 billion-asset bank said the change reflects a brand that it has been using with its commercial clients. The new brand “allows us to reach more clients and continue our growth throughout the Chicago metro area,” Eric Ephraim, the bank’s president and chief operating officer, said in a press release. First Bank Chicago has been expanding beyond

July 1, 2022
Customers formally ending deposit servicing pace

Customers formally ending deposit servicing pace

Customers Bancorp in West Reading, Pa., has given formal notice to end its deposit servicing agreement with BM Technologies. The agreement, which has been in place since January 2021, is set to end on Dec. 31. The $19.6 billion-asset Customers announced in January that it planned to end the relationship, noting that the move should save it $60 million a year. The company said at the time that it expected about $1.8

July 1, 2022