Strategic Insights into Banking & Fintech

1895 Bancorp in Wisconsin shuffles exec ranks

1895 Bancorp in Wisconsin shuffles exec ranks

A pair of key roles have changed at 1895 Bancorp of Wisconsin in Greenfield. The $536 million-asset 1895 Bancorp said in a press release that David Ball, its president and chief operating officer, had become its CEO. Ball succeeded Richard Hurd, who stepped down as CEO to become executive vice president of strategic planning. Monica Brand, the company’s chief brand officer, succeeded Ball as chief operating officer. Separately, 1895 Bancorp

September 30, 2022
Evolve Bank resolves claims of discriminatory mortgage practice

Evolve Bank resolves claims of discriminatory mortgage practice

Evolve Bank & Trust in Memphis, Tenn., will pay about $1.3 million to settle claims that it engaged in lending discrimination on the basis of race, sex and national origin in the pricing of its mortgages from 2014 to 2019.  The Justice Department said in a press release Thursday that the $1.3 billion-asset bank will establish a $1.3 million settlement fund and pay a $50,000 civil penalty.    “This settlement

September 29, 2022
M&T to sell insurance agency to Gallagher

M&T to sell insurance agency to Gallagher

M&T Bank in Buffalo, N.Y., has agreed to sell its insurance agency to Arthur J. Gallagher. The $204 billion-asset bank said in a press release that it will sell M&T Insurance Agency in a deal that is expected to close in the fourth quarter. The price wasn’t disclosed.    The insurance agency specializes in property and casualty products, customized group benefits and surety solutions in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. Current

September 29, 2022
Bank Five Nine in Wis. lines up next CEO

Bank Five Nine in Wis. lines up next CEO

Bank Five Nine in Oconomowoc, Wis., will soon have a new CEO. The $1.5 billion-asset bank said in a LinkedIn post that Tim Schneider will also become its president in October. Schneider previously served as a senior vice president at Nicolet National Bank.    Before that, he was the CEO of Investors Community Bank in Manitowoc, Wis., which was sold to Nicolet last year.    “We conducted a national search

September 29, 2022
Six big banks to participate in Fed climate-risk study

Six big banks to participate in Fed climate-risk study

Six large U.S. banks will participate in a Federal Reserve pilot program designed to examine banks’ climate-related financial risks. The Fed said in a press release Thursday that Bank of America, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, Morgan Stanley and Wells Fargo will participate in the program, which is expected to begin early next year.    The pilot is will likely end in late 2023.   The banks will analyze the

September 29, 2022
Brookline in Mass. taps insider as next bank CEO

Brookline in Mass. taps insider as next bank CEO

Brookline Bancorp in Boston will soon have a new bank CEO. The $8.5 billion-asset company said in a press release Thursday that William Tsonos will also become the president of Bank Rhode Island on Nov. 1. Tsonos, who joined Brookline in 2006, is the bank’s executive vice president of commercial lending.    Tsonos will succeed Mark Meiklejohn, who was named the company’s chief credit officer. Meiklejohn, who joined the bank

September 29, 2022
M&T to compensate clients harmed by integration

M&T to compensate clients harmed by integration

M&T Bank said it is taking steps to compensate customers who were stung by the Buffalo, N.Y., bank’s conversion of People’s United Financial in Bridgeport, Conn. The $204 billion-asset M&T, which bought People’s United earlier this year, experienced glitches and other issues as part of the integration process.    “For customers who were unable to access funds during the conversion, we will provide appropriate financial remuneration,” CEO Rene Jones wrote in

September 29, 2022
First Bank in N.J. to offer credit lines to PE firms

First Bank in N.J. to offer credit lines to PE firms

First Bank in Hamilton, N.J., has expanded its commercial lending operations to serve private equity funds and their portfolio companies. The $2.6 billion-asset bank said in a press release that it will offer capital call lines of credit. Such loans are usually used to bridge gaps between the timing of an acquisition and the receipt of capital from investors.    "As an entrepreneur myself, I understand the challenges that private

September 29, 2022