Strategic Insights into Banking & Fintech

Investor group seeks special meeting at Republic First

Investor group seeks special meeting at Republic First

A group of shareholders has urged Republic First Bancorp in Philadelphia to hold a special meeting.George Norcross III, Gregory Braca, Philip Norcross and Avery Conner Capital Trust sent a written request to the $5.4 billion-asset company’s board on Thursday for the meeting. “Consistent with its fiduciary duties, the board, together with its advisers, is reviewing the notice,” Republic First said in a regulatory filing. Republic First recently disclosed that it will delay

May 2, 2022
Sterling in Mich. in settlement talks with OCC, DoJ

Sterling in Mich. in settlement talks with OCC, DoJ

Sterling Bancorp in Southfield, Mich., has started having discussions with federal agencies to resolve longstanding issues tied to its Advantage Loan Program. The $2.8 billion-asset company said in a press release Monday that talks with the Department of Justice and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency are under way. Investigations by both agencies “have progressed significantly,” Sterling said. “It is too early in the process for us to have any

May 2, 2022
First Century terminates planned sale to First Internet

First Century terminates planned sale to First Internet

First Century Bancorp in Roswell, Ga., has terminated its merger agreement with First Internet Bancorp in Fishers, Ind. The $4.2 billion-asset First Internet said in a press release Sunday that the $408 million-asset First Century called off the deal. The proposed transaction, announced on Nov. 2, was supposed to be completed by April 30. First Internet said that, while the Federal Reserve approved its purchase of First Century on Friday, the companies

May 2, 2022
Peoples Bank of Alabama has new CEO

Peoples Bank of Alabama has new CEO

Peoples Bank of Alabama in Cullman has a new CEO. The $1.2 billion-asset bank tweetedon Friday that Robin Cummings had retired. Peoples said that Cummings, who has more than 38 years of services, remains on the board and will serve as a special adviser to its executive team. The bank’s website noted that Tim Williams is now CEO. He remains the bank’s president.

May 1, 2022
Provident in Mass. gains traction in BaaS business

Provident in Mass. gains traction in BaaS business

Provident Bancorp in Amesbury, Mass., is the latest bank to report traction in its Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) platform. The $1.8 billion-asset company said in a press release Friday that deposits with BaaS customers increased by 58% in the first quarter from a quarter earlier, to $94.3 million. Provident said its portfolio of digital asset loans decreased by 7% from a quarter earlier after a client paid down a $35 million credit line.

April 29, 2022
Codorus Valley revamping mortgage, small biz lending

Codorus Valley revamping mortgage, small biz lending

Codorus Valley Bancorp in York, Pa., which recently reached a truce with an activist investor, disclosed a series of moves to revitalize its mortgage and small business lending operations. The $2.4 billion-asset company said in a press release Thursday that it created three jumbo mortgage products geared toward physicians, entrepreneurs, and private banking and private wealth clients. The company also launched an online mortgage application and hired a sales manager during the

April 29, 2022
Meta Financial discloses total rebranding costs

Meta Financial discloses total rebranding costs

Meta Financial in Sioux Falls, S.D., stands to profit from selling it name to a group affiliated with Facebook. The $6.9 billion-asset company said in a press release Thursday that it expects rebranding expenses to total $15 million to $20 million – far less than the $60 million it will receive for changing its name. Meta, which plans to rebrand as Pathward Financial, incurred $2.8 million in expenses during the first quarter

April 29, 2022
Blue Ridge sells payroll firm, gives fintech update

Blue Ridge sells payroll firm, gives fintech update

Blue Ridge Bankshares in Charlottesville, Va., has sold a payroll business. The $2.7 billion-asset company said in a press release Thursday that it sold a majority stake in MoneyWise Payroll Solutions in Charlottesville to the firm’s other investor during the first quarter. The company also said it has active partnerships with a number of fintechs, including Unit, Flexible Finance, Increase, Upgrade, Kashable, Jaris, Aeldra, Grow Credit, MentorWorks and Marlette.  Blue Ridge

April 29, 2022