HarborOne outgrows Mass. deposit-insurance fund
HarborOne Bancorp in Brockton, Mass., has changed its bank’s charter after getting too big to use a benefit of being a state-chartered savings bank. The $5.4 billion-asset company disclosed in a regulatory filing that HarborOne Bank switched to a state-chartered trust company and ended its membership in the Depositors Insurance Fund. The DIF insures deposit […]
CUES begins search for next CEO
The Credit Union Executives Society (CUES) in Madison, Wis., has hired a search firm to help it find a successor for John Pembroke, who died in November. CUES hired DDJ Myers to help it find a new president and CEO, according to the Credit Union Times. Pembroke “created a solid foundation and trajectory for the […]
Fed again rejects Custodia request for supervision
The Federal Reserve Board has rejected a request by Custodia Bank to reconsider last month’s decision to deny the Cheyenne, Wyo., company’s application to be supervised by the Fed. The Fed rejected Custodia’s application after concluding that it was “inconsistent with the required factors under the law.” The regulator determined that the business model and […]
Citizens Trust to hold USDC reserves for Circle
Citizens Trust Bank in Atlanta will hold about $65 million of USD Coin (USDC) cash reserves for Circle Internet Financial in Boston. Circle, a digital fintech firm that issues USDC, said the agreement is part of a broader effort to allocate a share of USDC dollar-denominated reserves to minority depository institutions (MDIs) and community banks. “For […]
Regulators warn about crypto-related liquidity risk
Federal bank regulators are warning banks to be diligent about potential runs associated with crypto-related deposits. The Federal Reserve, Federal Deposits Insurance Corporation and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, in a joint statement, pressed banks to keep an eye on certain crypto-related deposits. They pointed specifically to deposits banks hold for crypto firms’ clients […]
First Foundation, investor spar over director nominations
A potential battle is brewing at First Foundation after the Dallas company invalidated an attempt by an activist investor to have individuals stand for board election. The $13 billion-asset company disclosed in a regulatory filing that it determined that Driver Management’s nomination notice was “materially deficient” and that its window for accepting nominations had closed. […]
Byline briefly walked away from Inland merger talks
Byline Bancorp in Chicago briefly walked away from talks to buy Inland Bancorp in Oak Brook, Ill. The $7.4 billion-asset Byline agreed in late November to buy the $1.2 million-asset Inland for $165 million in cash and stock. Initial talks between the companies ended last May before being resurrected three months later, according to a […]
Dietrich Bank in Illinois lines up next CEO
Dietrich Bank in Effingham, Ill., will soon have a new CEO. The $1.2 billion-asset bank said in a press release that Jason Semple, its chief financial officer, will succeed the retiring Chuck Deters on May 1. Semple will also join the boards of the bank and its holding company, Prime Banc Corp. Deters, who has […]
Main Street in W.Va. merging with Wayne in Ohio
Main Street Financial Services in Wheeling, W.Va., has agreed to buy Wayne Savings Bancshares in Wooster, Ohio. The $604.3 million-asset Main Street said in a press release that it will pay $68 million in stock for the $729.8 million-asset Wayne Savings. The deal is expected to close in the second half of this year. Wayne Savings’ […]
First Citizens puts its name on equipment finance unit
First Citizens BancShares in Raleigh, N.C., has rebranded its vendor equipment finance unit. The $109.3 billion-asset company said in a press release that CIT Business Capital has been renamed First Citizens Bank Equipment Finance. First Citizens obtained the business from its January 2022 purchase of CIT Group. “This brand transition is about much more than […]
Partners finds new merger partner in LINKBANCORP
LINKBANCORP in Camp Hill, Pa., has agreed to buy Partners Bancorp in Salisbury, Md. The $1.2 billion-asset LINK agreed to pay $167.8 million in stock for the $1.6 billion-asset parent of Bank of Delmarva and Virginia Partners Bank. The deal is expected to close in the third quarter. The announcement comes weeks after OceanFirst Financial […]
OIG: 136 FDIC-insured banks have crypto strategies
At least 136 banks insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. had ongoing or planned crypto-related activities in January. Many of the banks have third-party arrangements that let the bank’s customers buy and sell crypto assets, the FDIC said in its latest Office of Inspector General report. Banks also provide account deposit services, custody services […]
How Mid Penn landed a deal for Brunswick in NJ
Brunswick Bancorp in New Brunswick, N.J., considered six offers before agreeing to negotiate exclusively with Mid Penn Bancorp in Harrisburg, Pa. The $4.3 billion-asset Mid Penn agreed to buy the $382 million-asset Brunswick on Dec. 20 for $53.9 million. Brunswick’s search for a buyer began in 2021 when it “engaged in substantial discussions” with two […]
Provident in Mass. removes ‘interim’ from leaders’ titles
Provident Bancorp in Amesbury, Mass., has locked down its top leadership. The $1.6 billion-asset company said in a press release that Carol Houle and Joe Reilly are now its permanent co-presidents and co-CEOs. The executives had held interim titles since Dec. 23. Houle will continue to serve as Provident’s chief financial officer, a role she has […]
Buckeye State to buy Rockhold Bancshares in Ohio
Buckeye State Bancshares in Powell, Ohio, has agreed to buy Rockhold Bancshares in Bainbridge, Ohio. The parent of the $320 million-asset Buckeye State Bank expects to complete the purchase of Rockhold and its $46.6 million-asset bank in the third quarter, according to an announcement by Performance Trust Capital Partners, which advised Buckeye State. The price […]
Washington Business Bank’s sale called off
Washington Business Bank in Olympia no longer plans to sell itself to an individual investor. The $97.5 million-asset bank said in a press release that the proposed sale, which was announced in May 2022, has been terminated. “The regulatory approval process continued longer than we expected and the individual investor ultimately withdrew the […]
PacWest cutting 200 jobs at Civic Financial unit
PacWest Bancorp in Los Angeles plans to lay off 200 employees at a unit that lends to real estate investors. The $41.2 billion-asset company disclosed in a regulatory filing that the cuts are part of its previously announced plan to restructure Civic Financial Services in Redondo Beach, Calif. The restructuring plan includes reducing the number […]
Woodland Bank in Minn. names new president
Woodland Bank in Deer River, Minn., has a new president. The $138 million-asset bank named Kurt Werner to the post, according to BusinessNorth.com. Werner, who was an executive vice president at the bank, took over day-to-day operations and will oversee the lending department. “We have built a high-performing team that requires we recruit, retain and recognize […]
Huntington forming streamlined consumer segment
Huntington Bancshares in Columbus, Ohio, plans to streamline its consumer operations into a single segment. The $183 billion-asset company will combine its retail and business banking operations and its auto finance business into its wealth management, private banking and insurance segment. The move, expected to take place in April and will create a single consumer […]
Ohio Valley to shutter online consumer mortgage unit
Ohio Valley Banc Corp. in Gallipolis plans to close its online consumer mortgage company. The $1.2 billion-asset company disclosed in a regulatory filing that it will shutter Race Day Mortgage. The decision reflects “low loan demand, issues retaining personnel and lack of profitability.” Ohio Valley said it plans to see current in-progress loan applications to […]
BHB Fund completes initial fundraising round
The Bankers Helping Bankers Fund, a fintech-focused venture capital fund, has completed its first fundraising round. The BHB Fund, managed by Latitude38 Venture Partners, disclosed that investors included Woodforest Bank, Origin Bank, Texas First Bank, Dream First Bank, National Bank and Trust, Legend Bank, Fannin Bank and First State Bank of Louise. IBAT Services and […]
Fifth Third’s bank to absorb fintech Provide
Fifth Third Bancorp in Cincinnati is planning to merge Provide, a heath care focused fintech, into its bank. The $207 billion-asset company disclosed in a legal notice that it applied with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. to merge the digital platform into its Fifth Third Bank. Fifth Third bought Provide in August 2021. The bank […]
Organizers plan women-owned bank in central Ohio
A group in Grandview Heights, Ohio, is planning a women-owned bank. Organizers have applied with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. to form Fortuna Bank. Ilaria Rawlins, a former executive at First Financial Bancorp in Cincinnati, would become the bank’s president and CEO. Lisa Berger is expected to serve as the bank’s chairman. While there are […]
Clarion County in Pa. forms division for market expansion
Clarion County Community Bank in Clarion, Pa., is planning a new division to focus on expansion in Erie, Pa. The $211 million-asset bank is planning Flagship Community Bank to coincide with opening its first branch in the market, according to GoErie.com. The bank, formed in 2004, has been making commercial loans in the area for […]
Nebraska credit union dealing with fraud issue
Creighton Federal Credit Union in Omaha, Neb., is slowly getting back to normal following a series of fraudulent online debit card purchases. The $66.8 million-asset credit union is now allowing members to make four online debit card purchases per day. Earlier in the week, Creighton had capped those transactions to once daily. “We have learned […]