Jill Castilla is the latest banker to join a university’s governing board. Castilla, president CEO of Citizens Bank of Edmond in Oklahoma, recently joined the board of trustees at Hawaii Pacific University. Castilla graduated from the university in 1996. Several current and former bank executives have made similar moves in recent months. Castilla’s addition comes a month after Dorothy Savarese, who recently retired as president and CEO of Cape Cod Five Cents Savings Bank

Pinnacle Financial Partners in Nashville, Tenn., has joined the expanding list of banks cutting and eliminating overdraft and nonsufficient funds (NSF) fees.The $39.4 billion-asset company said in a press release that it will eliminate the NSF fee for returned items for consumer accounts and reduce the NSF returned item fee from $38 to $30 for business accounts. Pinnacle will lower the overdraft fee for paid items from $38 to $30

Citadel Credit Union in Exton, Pa., will launch a business banking division in August after hiring a team of bankers from Santander Bank.The $5 billion-asset credit union said on its website that it will look to form strategic partnerships in an around Philadelphia. “We are ready to hit the ground running and partner with businesses of any size in the region,” Jeff March, Citadel’s president and CEO, said in the release.

Lakeland Bancorp in Oak Ridge, N.J., has expanded its health care lending services to four new states.The $10.3 billion-asset company said in a press release that it has started making loans in Florida, Massachusetts, Ohio and Virginia. Lakeland’s health care banking team has been operating in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania since 2019. The platform has originated more than $500 million of loans since its formation. “We’re

A dispute among Vernon Hill, Republic First Bancorp and the Philadelphia company’s investors is ongoing. Hill, who recently announced plans to resign on Aug. 8, claimed in a July 6 letter that four of the $5.7 billion-asset company’s directors breached his 2021 employment agreement as wrangling escalated in recent months. Hill alleged the group, led by former CEO Harry Madonna, attempted to remove him as chairman without giving him a required 30-day written

Amerant Bancorp in Coral Gables, Fla., has become the official bank of the Miami Heat. The $7.6 billion-asset company said in a press release Tuesday that it agreed to a multi-year deal with the professional basketball team. The deal includes marketing and business development opportunities, including prominent courtside signage, VIP client events and access to appearances by Heat players. Amerant did not disclose the price it paid for the sponsorship. “Through this strategic partnership

A former executive at Alloy Labs Alliance is leading an effort to form a digital bank for indigenous people. Amber Buker, who recently stepped down as Alloy’s director of insights, announced plans for Totem in a tweet, calling the startup the “only digital bank by and for indigenous people.” Alloy disclosed that it is an investor in the venture.The plan is to go live with the bank next year. Totem has yet

Bankers Helping Bankers, a program launched by FedFis and the Independent Bankers Association of Texas, has launched a fintech venture capital fund.    The Bankers Helping Bankers Fund will support community bankers’ engagement with emerging technology providers. Bankers Helping Bankers did not disclose the targeted size of the fund.    “For years founders have been looking for a fintech fund that can deliver where others have fallen short,” Tanner Mayo,