Banking

The Secured Overnight Financing Rate has benefited — amid the phaseout of Libor — from positive comments by regulators. Is a multirate environment, which some banks would prefer, still possible?

Key retail vacancies, a drop in office occupancies, plus a combination of lower oil prices, a housing market oversupply — worsened by the coronavirus pandemic — caused loan-level performance issues.

The Alabama bank is buying Clearsight Advisors to add to its booming capital markets division.

More than 180 community development financial institutions and minority depository institutions will receive the federal funds under a pandemic-era program. “It’s a lifesaver,” a credit union CEO said.

The deal for Summit Financial furthers First Financial’s strategy of acquiring national niche business lines.

Business and regulatory pressures were already weighing on aging executives before the onset of the pandemic led many to delay retirement plans. Now as the crisis eases, an increasing number are finally stepping down.

In a semiannual report on trouble spots in the banking sector, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency raised concerns that banks are taking on too much risk in pursuit of earnings growth.

After Democrats failed last year to rally support for a federal 36% limit, House and Senate proponents are trying to capitalize on the momentum from state rate caps that recently passed on a bipartisan basis.

The deal’s sponsor has issued a small rated portion to investors and sold the remainder back to loan-originator.

The sponsor’s Fortune 500 parent provides comfort in the face of the subprime-auto industry’s woes.