Strategic Insights into Banking & Fintech

Proposed N.H. mutual hits capital goal

Proposed N.H. mutual hits capital goal

The organizers of Walden Mutual Bank in Concord, N.H., has exceeded its capital goal. The group said in an email that they have secured more than $20 million of commitments. The plan is to open the mutual in late summer. Walden has received approval from the New Hamphsire Banking Department but it still needs a greenlight from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. "The participation and support we've received from you have been incredibly

August 18, 2022
BOK Financial taps new CEO for Bank of Texas

BOK Financial taps new CEO for Bank of Texas

BOK Financial in Tulsa, Okla., has named a new CEO for Bank of Texas. The $45 billion-asset company said in a press release Wednesday that Mark Wade will take over the post on Jan. 1. He will succeed Norm Bagwell, who previously announced plans to retire.“Norm Bagwell has been an important part of our company since he joined us in 2008,” Stacy Kymes, BOK Financial’s president and CEO, said in the

August 17, 2022
Republic First: Review of related-party dealings completed

Republic First: Review of related-party dealings completed

Republic First Bancorp in Philadelphia is one step closer to getting caught up on its regulatory filings.The $5.7 billion-asset company said in a press release that Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr, an outside firm, has completed its review of related-party transactions, certain internal controls and “associated financial statement and disclosure implications.” The results are being evaluated by Republic First’s audit committee, management and an independent registered public accounting firm. As

August 17, 2022
Former Eagle Bancorp CEO barred from banking industry

Former Eagle Bancorp CEO barred from banking industry

Ronald Paul, who abruptly stepped down as chairman and CEO of Eagle Bancorp in Bethesda, Md., in 2019, has been barred from the banking industry.The Federal Reserve also fined Paul $90,000 after the former executive agreed to resolve claims he and the $10.9 billion-asset Eagle made negligently false and misleading statements about related-party loans tied to his business interests.EagleBank agreed to pay a $9.5 million fine for violating the Fed's insider lending regulations.Separately,

August 16, 2022
First Horizon sells title insurance subsidiary

First Horizon sells title insurance subsidiary

First Horizon in Memphis, Tenn., has sold its title insurance subsidiary. The $43.7 billion-asset company sold Lenders Title Group to Knox-Precision Holdings. The price wasn’t disclosed.“Our historical success is due to the hard work and dedication of our title associates and the confidence our clients have in us, all backed by the support of our banking colleagues throughout the years,” Beau Fast, Lenders Title’s president and CEO, said in a Tuesday

August 16, 2022
M&T hires BofA exec as its chief digital officer

M&T hires BofA exec as its chief digital officer

M&T Bank in Buffalo, N.Y., has hired an executive from Bank of America to become its chief digital officer. The $204 billion-asset M&T said in a press release Tuesday that Ishet Dhar will focus on the role digital plays in creating simple, differentiated experiences for clients and employees. He will report to Christopher Kay, M&T’s head of consumer/business banking. Dhar previously served as senior vice president of digital consumer delivery at Bank

August 16, 2022
Central Bank of Kansas City spins off payments business

Central Bank of Kansas City spins off payments business

Central Bank of Kansas City in Missouri has spun off its payments and card-issuing platform after the business raised $30 million. Central Payments, founded in 2014 as part of the $350 million-asset Central, said in a press release that it raised funds from investors that include Castle Creek Capital and Launchpad Capital. Central will remain an investor in Central Payments. “Since inception, we have remained steadfast in our belief that new technology

August 15, 2022
ICBA-backed firm BankTech Ventures closes first fund

ICBA-backed firm BankTech Ventures closes first fund

BankTech Ventures in Sandy, Utah, has closed on its first fund after bringing in more than $115 million in capital commitments. BankTech said in a press release Monday that the initial round included more than 100 limited partners, comprised almost entirely of community banks. The firm has made eight investments since its first closing in November. “It’s been a whirlwind nine months since we launched BTV,” Carey Ransom, the firm’s managing director,

August 15, 2022