Allissa Kline

The North Carolina bank is the latest lender impacted by the bankruptcy of U.S. auto parts maker First Brands. First Citizens executives said credit was in good shape overall.

Bank of America has a playbook for government shutdowns, which includes providing fee and payment waivers as well as loan deferrals and forbearance programs, CEO Brian Moynihan said at the American Bankers Association's annual convention.

The Federal Open Market Committee's decision to reduce interest rates for the first time in nine months lifted bank stocks Wednesday. The 25-basis-point reduction could lead to net interest income headwinds now, but loan growth later, analysts said.

Late-payment rates among U.S. borrowers rose again in the second quarter, according to a report from the New York Fed. The trend reflects a sharp increase in student loan delinquencies, which have been climbing as pandemic-era policies have expired.

The two Southeast banks agreed to combine in a transaction valued at $8.6 billion. Synovus CEO Kevin Blair would be chief executive of the combined bank, but a slim majority of board members would come from Pinnacle.

Flagstar Bank wants to merge its holding company into the bank, which would cut $15 million in annual expenses and eliminate regulatory oversight by the Federal Reserve, leaving the OCC as its primary regulator. The bank's CEO, Joseph Otting, is a former comptroller of the currency.

The North Carolina-based regional bank still expects its revenue to outpace its spending this year, though if interest rates hold steady, it could "create some risk," a top executive said Friday.

The CEOs of Bank of New York Mellon and Northern Trust have had at least one discussion about a potential merger, according to a Wall Street Journal article. On Monday, a spokesperson for Northern Trust said the bank "is fully committed to remaining independent."

While other European-based banks have retreated from the United States, Santander is doubling down by building out its nationwide digital-banking platform. "Unequivocally," said U.S. CEO Christiana Riley, "the opportunity … is so clear."

The potential for a global trade war has largely undone the optimism that the industry exhibited at the beginning of the year. Here's a look at three ways that tariffs could negatively impact banks.

Fears of a recession intensified after President Trump unveiled his plan to impose a minimum 10% tariff on all U.S. imports, and the KBW Nasdaq Bank Index tumbled by nearly 10%.

The largest U.S. bank by assets has elevated Jennifer Piepszak to chief operating officer, in preparation for Daniel Pinto's retirement in 2026. But Piepszak is not interested in being CEO, the company said.

The banking giant's exit from the global Net-Zero Banking Alliance leaves just three smaller U.S. banks in the group. Climate activists called large banks' departures a capitulation to Republicans' climate denialism.

Bank of America, Citigroup, Wells Fargo and Goldman Sachs have also withdrawn from the Net-Zero Banking Alliance in the past month, as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office.

Richard "Dick" Parsons, the former Citigroup chairman who died Thursday, is credited with helping the New York megabank survive the financial crisis. Earlier in his career, he led Dime Savings Bank out of the savings-and-loan crisis.

Openbank, which has operated in parts of Europe for years, should help the Spanish bank to fund its U.S. auto lending business, executives said.

Analysts peppered CEO Jane Fraser with questions about whether Citigroup, already hit hard by its regulators, could face asset growth restrictions. She said there is "absolutely nothing" in the works that could impact the megabank's businesses.

The megabank reported a big increase in credit costs for the third quarter, which included a reserve build of $1 billion.

The parent company of Fulton Bank announced the creation of three new management roles and promoted existing employees into those jobs. The changes follow the recent hiring of an outsider to be CFO.

The Kansas City, Missouri-based regional bank said it is making progress on its pending purchase of Heartland Financial USA in Denver. The deal is expected to close during the first quarter of 2025.