Strategic Insights into Banking & Fintech

UMB to buy Old National’s HSA business

UMB to buy Old National’s HSA business

UMB Financial in Kansas City, Mo., has agreed to buy the health savings account business of Old National Bancorp in Evansville, Ind. The $40.6 billion-asset UMB said in a press release Monday that it will obtain about $500 million of client assets. About $400 million of those assets are held in deposit accounts. The assets are comprised of roughly 157,000 accounts across more than 3,000 employer groups. UMB did not disclose the

June 27, 2022
Avidia Bank CEO to retire in 2023

Avidia Bank CEO to retire in 2023

Avidia Bank in Hudson, Mass., is on the lookout for a new CEO. The $2.4 billion-asset bank said in a press release Monday that Mark O’Connell, who is also its president, will retire in May 2023. O’Connell, who joined a predecessor bank in 1988, has been president and CEO since 2004. “I’m really proud of what we’ve all been able to accomplish at Avidia over the years,” O’Connell said in the release. “It’s

June 27, 2022
Tenn. bank commish still looking to stop CU-bank deal

Tenn. bank commish still looking to stop CU-bank deal

Greg Gonzales, the commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions, has appealed a judge's decision that would allow Orion Credit Union to buy Financial Federal Bank. Gonzales argued in his appeal, filed on June 14, that depositors of the bank would be “irreparably harmed and disrupted” if the acquisition closes. He also argued that it would create confusion if the deal closes and is subsequently nullified by an appeals court. The

June 27, 2022
Organizers plan new bank in Arizona

Organizers plan new bank in Arizona

A group with ties to a wealth management firm in Scottsdale, Ariz., has applied to form a bank in the city.   Organizers of Zenith Bank & Trust applied with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. on June 23 for deposit insurance. The group plans to register with the Federal Reserve to make Zenith Financial Holding the proposed bank’s holding company.    Zenith Financial Holding already owns Zenith Wealth Advisors, a

June 27, 2022
United in Ga. made fast Progress with Ala. bank deal

United in Ga. made fast Progress with Ala. bank deal

The leaders of United Community Banks in Blairsville, Ga., and Progress Financial in Huntsville, Ala., quickly bonded as they discussed what would become United’s agreement to buy Progress. The $24 billion-asset United agreed in May to buy the $1.9 billion-asset Progress for $271.5 million in stock. Progress, however, has United on a list of potential “upstream partners” well before David Nast, it’s president and CEO, first met with Lynn Harton, United’s chairman

June 27, 2022
Two large credit union associations explore merger

Two large credit union associations explore merger

Cornerstone League in Plano, Texas, and Heartland Credit Union Association in Overland Park, Kan., are exploring a merger of their organizations.The associations said in a press release that they have signed a letter of intent to create a group that would represent 718 credit unions in five states. “We believe that the infrastructure supporting our credit unions must evolve to keep pace with the way credit unions and consumers have changed,”

June 27, 2022
Fed bans former Golden Pacific investor

Fed bans former Golden Pacific investor

An investor who tried to buy Golden Pacific Bancorp in Sacramento, Calif., has been banned from the banking industry. The Federal Reserve said it banned Karl Klessig for providing a fraudulent loan document and forged signature when he applied to buy the bank two years ago. “Klessig’s deceptive conduct in connection with his effort to acquire control of the bank exposed the institution to probable financial loss or could have prejudiced the

June 25, 2022
Former acting comptroller to retire

Former acting comptroller to retire

Blake Paulson, who briefly served as acting comptroller in 2021, is one of three members of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency’s executive committee who are stepping down on July 1.The agency said Paulson, senior deputy comptroller for supervision risk and analysis, will fully retire on Aug. 31. Jay Gallagher, deputy comptroller for systemic risk identification support and specialty supervision, will succeed Paulson as acting senior deputy comptroller. Kathy Murphy,

June 24, 2022