Banking and Lending
CT Green Bank Wants Partners to Grow Home Energy Loans
By James Sanna | July 25, 2024 | Reprints | Unlock LinkAt the same time as Connecticut homeowners are turning to the huge stores of equity built up in their houses to fund renovation projects, the quasi-public CT Green Bank is trying to get more lenders to offer its successful loan product aimed at residential energy upgrades.
CHFA Launches Mortgage Rate Reduction Program
July 23, 2024 | Reprints | Unlock LinkStudent loan borrowers facing trouble affording a mortgage have a new option courtesy of the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority.
Banks Among Those Hit by Global IT Outage
By Charlotte Graham-McLay, Elaine Kurtenbach and David McHugh | The Associated Press | July 19, 2024 | Reprints | Unlock LinkA global technology outage caused by a faulty software update grounded flights, knocked banks and media outlets offline, and disrupted hospitals, small businesses and other services on Friday.
Citizens Plans to Shrink Multifamily Loans
By James Sanna | July 18, 2024 | Reprints | Unlock LinkThe bank plans to reduce its lending to multifamily real estate projects as part of a broader effort to shrink its commercial real estate book, in part to make room for loans to developers who are customers at its new private bank.
BofA Q2 Profits Drop as Higher Interest Rates Slow Down Lending
By Ken Sweet | The Associated Press | July 17, 2024 | Reprints | Unlock LinkBank of America said its profits fell in the second quarter, as higher interest rates ate into BofA’s expenses, including its large consumer banking franchise.
Webster Bank Picks Ex-First Republic Exec as New CFO
By Erin Delaney | July 16, 2024 | Reprints | Unlock LinkWebster Bank announced yesterday it had appointed William Holland as its next chief financial officer and the new executive vice president of finance for its holding company.
Megabank Quarterly Results Show Signs of Consumers Spending Slowdown
By Ken Sweet | The Associated Press | July 15, 2024 | Reprints | Unlock LinkJPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo saw their adjusted profits fall, while Citigroup saw sluggish spending on its credit cards.
Inflation Cools Again, Potentially Paving Way for Fed to Cut Rates
By Christopher Rugaber | The Associated Press | July 11, 2024 | Reprints | Unlock LinkInflation in the United States cooled in June for a third straight month, a sign that the worst price spike in four decades is steadily fading and may soon usher in interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve.
Despite Push to Shrink Exposure, Banks Face Growing CRE Risk, Moody’s Warns
By Erin Delaney | July 11, 2024 | Reprints | Unlock LinkProlonged high interest rates may drive credit risk at banks with high commercial real estate exposures, according to a new survey by Moody’s.
Speaking Before Congress, Powell Shifts Tone on Economy
By Christopher Rugaber | The Associated Press | July 9, 2024 | Reprints | Unlock LinkThe Federal Reserve chair stepped away from a single-minded fight against inflation, suggesting it is moving closer to cutting interest rates.
Fed Highlights Political Independence as Elections Loom
By Christopher Rugaber | The Associated Press | July 8, 2024 | Reprints | Unlock LinkThe Federal Reserve is highlighting the importance of its political independence at a time when Donald Trump, who frequently attacked the Fed’s policymaking in the past, edges closer to formally becoming the Republican nominee for president.
First County Bank Appoints Chief Risk Officer
By Erin Delaney | Special to The Commercial Record | July 3, 2024 | Reprints | Unlock LinkFirst County Bank recently appointed Christopher Hayden as its new senior vice president and chief risk officer. Hayden will be responsible for the company’s enterprise and regulatory risk management functions.
Powell: Inflation Cooling Again, But Not Yet Time to Cut Rates
By Christopher Rugaber | The Associated Press | July 3, 2024 | Reprints | Unlock LinkInflation in the United States is slowing again after higher readings earlier this year, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said Tuesday, while adding that more such evidence would be needed before the Fed would cut interest rates.
Jewett City Savings Bank Cuts Ribbon on Updated Brooklyn Branch
June 28, 2024 | Reprints | Unlock LinkJewett City Savings Bank held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, June 12, to celebrate its newly renovated Brooklyn branch.
PeoplesBank, Cornerstone Bank to Merge
By James Sanna | June 21, 2024 | Reprints | Unlock LinkA significant player in the central Connecticut banking market and a prominent Worcester-area lender say they plan to merge holding companies, the latest pair of mutual banks to combine using this increasingly popular method.
Average Mortgage Ease to Lowest Level Since Early April
By Alex Veiga | The Associated Press | June 20, 2024 | Reprints | Unlock LinkYields have mostly eased recently following some economic data showing slower growth, which could help keep a lid on inflationary pressures and convince the Federal Reserve to begin lowering its main interest rate.
Apple Kills Its Year-Old BNPL Services
By Ken Sweet | The Associated Press | June 18, 2024 | Reprints | Unlock LinkApple is discontinuing its buy now, pay later service known as Apple Pay Later barely a year after its initial launch in the U.S., and will rely on companies who already dominate the industry like Affirm and Klarna.
Biden to Nominate Christy Goldsmith Romero as FDIC Chair
By Ken Sweet | The Associated Press | June 17, 2024 | Reprints | Unlock LinkA longtime financial regulator, Goldsmith Romero is currently a commissioner at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the nation’s financial derivatives regulator.
Liberty Bank Wins Double Gold at NEFMA Awards
By Erin Delaney | Special to Banker & Tradesman | June 17, 2024 | Reprints | Unlock LinkEast Cambridge Savings Bank and Middletown, Connecticut-based Liberty Bank both won two gold awards, more than any other financial institution this year.
Don’t Discount the English Major
By Celeste Graham | Special to The Commercial Record | June 14, 2024 | Reprints | Unlock LinkThe eye-popping decline in American college students majoring in English is leaving companies bereft of important skills among new hires and eventual potential executives