First Citizens to acquire 138 BMO branches

Buying the branches, which span 11 states, furthers First Citizens’ effort to expand nationally, bank executives said. One analyst, though, said it gives the North Carolina-based lender “a weird map.”

By Caitlin Mullen • Oct. 16, 2025

Tech-focused Erebor Bank gets conditional OCC approval

The bank, backed by billionaire investor Peter Thiel and founded by two tech pioneers, will serve companies focused on crypto, AI, defense and manufacturing.

By Gabrielle Saulsbery • Oct. 15, 2025

Explore the Trendline➔

Artificial intelligence

The heavily regulated banking sector rarely gets to trailblaze. But with AI, an all-in mentality is fueling both research and adoption.

By Banking Dive staff

First Horizon keeps options open amid M&A uptick

The Memphis, Tennessee-based bank’s CEO is “increasingly confident in our ability to integrate a well-structured merger,” but also indicated the lender is focused on “optionality,” he said Wednesday.

By Caitlin Mullen • Oct. 15, 2025

Robinhood CEO to community bankers: Don’t be too worried about AI

The chief executive of the day-trading fintech told a group of community bank CEOs last week that small, local lenders have a leg up when it comes to customer relationships.

By Caitlin Mullen • Oct. 15, 2025

JPMorgan takes $170M charge-off on Tricolor ties

The bank’s CEO Jamie Dimon called the misstep, in connection to the bankrupt subprime auto lender, “not our finest moment.” He also warned that “when you see one cockroach, there are probably more.”

By Caitlin Mullen • Oct. 14, 2025

Bessent urges community bank CEOs to ‘go on the offense’

Community lenders that make it through the next decade will have embraced technology and attracted younger customers, the Treasury secretary said at a Fed conference Thursday.

By Caitlin Mullen • Oct. 9, 2025

Fifth Third-Comerica bolsters Texas deal activity

Analysts look to pinpoint the next bank takeover target – citing First Horizon, Webster and Cadence – as the banking sector comes off its hottest M&A quarter in four years.

By Caitlin Mullen • Oct. 8, 2025

Citizens names commercial-banking head as McCree retires

Don McCree is retiring after 10 years with the bank. Ted Swimmer, most recently the bank’s head of capital markets and advisory, has taken McCree’s former post.

By Gabrielle Saulsbery • Oct. 7, 2025

Fifth Third to acquire Comerica for $10.9B

The deal, expected to close by March, will create a $288 billion-asset bank among the nation’s 10 largest.

By Gabrielle Saulsbery • Oct. 6, 2025

Prosperity scoops up another Texas bank for $269M

The Houston-based lender, which “treats M&A as a line of business,” is likely to consider more acquisition opportunities while closing and integrating its two most recently announced deals, an analyst said.

By Caitlin Mullen • Oct. 2, 2025

Top bank conferences to attend in 2026

Gatherings can be idea generators, or crucial chances to network — especially amid an environment where political change can yield previously unexpected possibilities and partnerships.

By Dan Ennis • Oct. 1, 2025

TD wants to get ‘back to winning’

The Canadian lender’s executives detailed plans to slash costs by $1.8 billion a year and deepen customer relationships to make the bank more efficient while revving up revenue growth.

By Caitlin Mullen • Sept. 30, 2025

Washington banks to combine in $176.6M deal

Heritage Financial will buy Kitsap Bank – adding 17 locations to bolster its presence on two peninsulas west of Seattle. It’ll be Heritage’s first acquisition since 2018.

By Dan Ennis • Sept. 29, 2025

Mid Penn to buy NJ bank, Florida investment firm

The serial acquirer seeks to buy its seventh bank in about 11 years, New Jersey-based 1st Colonial, for $101 million. The following day, Mid Penn said it’s acquiring an investment management firm, too.

By Caitlin Mullen • Sept. 29, 2025

Indiana’s First Merchants to buy in-state peer for $241.3M

The deal would give the Muncie, Indiana-based bank $21 billion in assets and entry to the neighboring Louisville, Kentucky, market.

By Gabrielle Saulsbery • Sept. 26, 2025

Citi sells 25% stake in Banamex for $2.3B

The bank incurred a $726 million goodwill impairment charge from the transaction, which is set to close in the second half of 2026.

By Dan Ennis • Sept. 25, 2025

Stifel hires 13 from SVB for life science, healthcare team

“Our clients are doing crazy, fun, innovative things,” one new Stifel hire said. “We get to provide a lot of hopeful value to help these clients be successful.”

By Gabrielle Saulsbery • Sept. 24, 2025

Axos acquires industrial equipment lender

The San Diego-based challenger bank first entered the equipment lending space in 2016 with its purchase of Pacific Western Equipment Finance from Pacific Western Bank.

By Gabrielle Saulsbery • Sept. 23, 2025

Tennessee bank aims to raise up to $103.7M in IPO

Commercial Bancgroup wants to list on the Nasdaq. It’s putting more than 3.7 million shares on the public market and is expected to fetch up to $27.75 per share.

By Dan Ennis • Sept. 22, 2025

SMBC to boost stake in Jefferies to 20%

The Japanese bank will pay roughly $912.8 million to buy shares. But it will also offer Jefferies $2.5 billion in new credit facilities. The banks plan to launch a joint venture in Japan in 2027.

By Dan Ennis • Sept. 19, 2025

First Interstate CEO: Colorado ‘a better opportunity’ after PNC move

Jim Reuter – who spent 37 years at FirstBank, most recently as CEO – said PNC’s acquisition of the Colorado bank creates opportunities for other local lenders to snag customers and talent.

By Caitlin Mullen • Sept. 19, 2025

BMO taps insider as next CFO

Rahul Nalgirkar, CFO of the bank’s U.S. operations, will succeed Tayfun Tuzun, who is set to retire early next year. Like Tuzun, Nalgirkar is a Fifth Third alum.

By Dan Ennis • Sept. 19, 2025

BofA boosts minimum hourly wage to $25

The Charlotte, North Carolina-based bank followed through on a 2021 promise to raise its pay floor to that level. And it’s not the only lender to do so this year.

By Caitlin Mullen • Sept. 17, 2025

Ally CIO: Pace of tech change ‘weighs on me’

Sathish Muthukrishnan, the bank’s chief information, data and digital officer, shared what’s surprised him about the use of Ally’s AI platform and the challenges of keeping up with rapid tech evolution.

By Caitlin Mullen • Sept. 17, 2025

National Bank Holdings to acquire Texas lender for $369M

Acquiring privately held Vista, which has operations in Texas and Florida, would push Denver-based NBH to $12.4 billion in total assets.

By Caitlin Mullen • Sept. 16, 2025