Strategic Insights into Banking & Fintech

First Volunteer in Tenn. rebranding as Builtwell Bank

First Volunteer in Tenn. rebranding as Builtwell Bank

First Volunteer Bank in Chattanooga, Tenn., plans to rebrand as Builtwell Bank. The $1.4 billion-asset unit of First Volunteer Corp. will change its name later this year, according to TheChattanoogan.com. First Volunteer expanding in Georgia with last year's acquisition of FBD Holdings, the parent of First Bank. “With this expansion further into Georgia, we realized the need to develop a new name for the bank that reflects our commitment to the communities we serve

April 16, 2022
Main Street Financial in W.Va. selects next chairman

Main Street Financial in W.Va. selects next chairman

Main Street Financial Services in Wheeling, W.Va., has a new chairman. The $607 million-asset company announced at its annual meeting on Thursday that Nick Sparachane will succeed Bruce Wilson on June 20, according to the Weirton Daily Times. Wilson, who has been chairman for 16 years, will remain on the company’s board.

April 16, 2022
Bank of Princeton plans to form BHC

Bank of Princeton plans to form BHC

Bank of Princeton in New Jersey is looking to form a holding company. The $1.7 billion-asset bank is asking shareholders to approve forming Princeton Bancorp at the 2022 annual meeting set for April 29. Bank of Princeton said in a regulatory filing that the reorganization would give it “a greater ability” to raise Tier 1 capital, which would help it “to continue to grow at the rate we desire, including through acquisitions,

April 15, 2022
Pilot program to help MDIs tackle financial wellness

Pilot program to help MDIs tackle financial wellness

Thirteen minority depository institutions will soon pilot a program designed to boost the financial wellness of minority communities. The pilot – led by the National Bankers Community Alliance, the HBCU Community Development Action Coalition and iGrad – will help the MDIs create a customized financial wellness website, issue calls to action and reward consumers for improved financial behaviors. The MDIs, which were not identified, will be able to provide in-person counseling, online

April 14, 2022
A look at Origin’s two-year wait for BT Holdings

A look at Origin’s two-year wait for BT Holdings

Origin Bancorp in Ruston, La., first approached BT Holdings in Quitman, Texas, about an acquisition two years before they agreed to a deal. The $7.9 billion-asset Origin agreed to buy the $2 billion-asset BT Holdings in February for $313.5 million in stock. Drake Mills, president and CEO of the $7.9 billion-asset Origin, originally reached out to Bob Dyer, who was BT’s chairman and CEO, in early 2019 to seek a meeting, according

April 14, 2022
U.S. Bancorp touts new initiatives in earnings release

U.S. Bancorp touts new initiatives in earnings release

U.S. Bancorp in Minneapolis highlighted partnerships with Microsoft, Morningstar and a fintech firm as part of its quarterly results. The $587 billion-asset company said in its earnings press release that it selected Microsoft Azure as its primary cloud provider. U.S. Bancorp said cloud computing will handle the majority of its infrastructure and application portfolio with cloud computing, allowing it rapidly access and analyze data. The company also touted its collaboration with Driveway

April 14, 2022
Group forms association for BaaS providers

Group forms association for BaaS providers

A group in Austin, Texas, has formed an association to advocate for financial institutions that offer Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) products. Bankers Helping Bankers, a bankers-only platform, said in a press release that it had formed the BHB Banking-as-a-Service Association. The association plans to coordinate legislative and regulatory advocacy efforts for BaaS providers and promote best practices and standards for delivering services to nonbanks. The plan is to encourage bankers to share experiences, insights, successes

April 14, 2022
Middlefield, Peoples Financial face proxy challenges

Middlefield, Peoples Financial face proxy challenges

A pair of community banks is facing proxy challenges from activist investors. Middlefield Banc Corp. in Beachwood, Ohio, is dealing with pressure from Ancora Advisors to find a buyer. The investor included a proposal for consideration at the $1.3 billion-asset Middlefield’s annual meeting that would recommend that the board “take the necessary steps to achieve a sale, merger, or other disposition of the company on terms that will maximize shareholder value as

April 13, 2022