Wells Fargo, Merrill Lynch, LPL settle SEC charges

Two Wells Fargo-affiliated investment advisers and Merrill Lynch agreed to pay $60 million, while LPL Financial agreed to pay $18 million.

By Rajashree Chakravarty • Jan. 21, 2025

FDIC sues 17 ex-SVB executives in alleged ‘gross negligence’

The complaint filed Thursday includes the former CEO and CFO of the failed California-based bank, four other ex-executives and 11 former directors. 

By Rajashree Chakravarty • Jan. 17, 2025

Explore the Trendline➔

M&A

President Donald Trump’s reelection was predicted to yield loosened regulation. But tariff volatility and economic uncertainty has thrown a wrench into an expected boom in mergers and acquisitions.

By Banking Dive staff

WaFd sheds 8% of staff with mortgage exit

“Our aim is to always offer products and services to our customers where WaFd Bank can add value, and we have concluded that we no longer do so in the mortgage sector,” CEO Brent Beardall said Thursday.

By Caitlin Mullen • Jan. 17, 2025

7 takeaways from Q4 earnings at JPMorgan, Goldman and more

JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon addressed his retirement timeline, Goldman chief David Solomon talked Apple, and bankers overall appeared to exude “animal spirits.”

By Dan Ennis • Jan. 15, 2025

Montana’s Glacier Bancorp to buy Idaho lender in $245.4M deal

Acquiring Bank of Idaho will add 15 locations to Glacier's footprint, along with $1.3 billion in assets. The acquisition, set to close in the second quarter, would be Glacier's 26th since 2000.

By Gabrielle Saulsbery • Jan. 15, 2025

SouthState to sell 170 branches in $475M lease-back deal

The Florida lender will enter lease agreements with Blue Owl Real Estate Capital for each branch, with initial 15-year terms, according to a filing. The bank said it will not close any affected locations.

By Rajashree Chakravarty • Jan. 14, 2025

JPMorgan elevates Piepszak to COO

Jennifer Piepszak replaces Daniel Pinto, who will retire in 2026. But she indicated she’d rather work in a “senior operating role” than be considered to succeed CEO Jamie Dimon “at this time.”

By Dan Ennis • Jan. 14, 2025

Pennsylvania banks to combine in $214M deal

CNB Financial Corp. will buy ESSA Bancorp in a transaction meant to help it expand in eastern Pennsylvania. The deal is expected to close in the third quarter.

By Rajashree Chakravarty • Jan. 13, 2025

Truist COO Beau Cummins resigns

The move comes after “material changes to his responsibilities” were made after the sale of Truist Insurance Holdings. Truist’s chief wholesale banking officer and CFO will split Cummins' responsibilities.

By Dan Ennis • Jan. 13, 2025

FDIC’s Hill sets out priorities for agency’s ‘new direction’

The agency’s vice chair anticipates a shift in bank supervision that emphasizes core financial risks over a process-related focus.

By Caitlin Mullen • Jan. 13, 2025

Fed approves UMB’s $2B acquisition of HTLF

The transaction, set to close by Jan. 31, would boost UMB’s assets by roughly 40%, more than double its branch footprint and give it entry to five new states.

By Dan Ennis • Jan. 13, 2025

JPMorgan sues 4 Viva Wallet execs, fintech’s majority owner

The bank alleges Viva CEO Haris Karonis and others deprived JPMorgan of “the value of its investment” through illegal actions.

By Gabrielle Saulsbery • Jan. 9, 2025

Dive Deposits: Morgan Stanley’s MD promotions don’t set records, they follow the herd

While Citi, BofA and Goldman touted their biggest cohorts of managing directors in years, Morgan Stanley elevated greater numbers in 2022 and 2023. But the banks appear in lock-step on other value markers.

By Dan Ennis • Jan. 9, 2025

6 banking trends to watch in 2025

Donald Trump’s return to the White House is expected to make an impression on a number of facets in banking – from regulation to M&A to crypto.

By Dan Ennis , Rajashree Chakravarty , Caitlin Mullen , Gabrielle Saulsbery • Jan. 8, 2025

Ally lays off hundreds of employees

The bank also announced plans to exit the mortgage origination business this quarter. Ally is exploring strategic alternatives for its credit card business.

By Gabrielle Saulsbery • Jan. 8, 2025

Credit Suisse had more Nazi-linked accounts than previously known: probe

The Swiss bank engaged in a “pattern of obstruction” by not sharing some information during past investigations into the lender’s ties to Nazis, the Senate Budget Committee said.

By Caitlin Mullen • Jan. 6, 2025

Patriot National taps new president to help in capital raise

Steven Sugarman was hired to lead the company’s restructuring efforts shortly after the company announced it was embarking on a strategic review. 

By Rajashree Chakravarty • Jan. 3, 2025

Bank of America buys $990M in multifamily loans from HomeStreet

HomeStreet CEO Mark Mason said the sale is the bank’s first step in returning to profitability.

By Gabrielle Saulsbery • Jan. 3, 2025

Kansas bank challenges $20M FDIC penalty

CBW Bank, charged with failing to maintain adequate anti-money laundering controls, has filed a lawsuit challenging the agency’s action, calling the penalty “unreasonable and unprecedented for a bank of this size.”

By Caitlin Mullen • Jan. 3, 2025

Massachusetts, Michigan deals push credit union-bank record to 22

Not every deal crosses the finish line, though. Atlanta Postal Credit Union and Affinity Bank terminated their proposed combination Monday.

By Rajashree Chakravarty • Jan. 2, 2025

Hawaiian Electric sells majority stake in American Savings Bank

The $450 million deal follows the Hawaiian utility company’s agreement last year to put close to $2 billion toward a joint settlement stemming from the 2023 Maui wildfires.

By Caitlin Mullen • Jan. 2, 2025

A running list of BaaS banks hit with consent orders in 2024

Regulators have taken a harder look at bank-fintech partnerships. Experts said the orders highlight gaps in due diligence and monitoring related to third-party partners.

Dec. 18, 2024

FDIC weighs lawsuit against ex-SVB execs

The regulator is considering taking legal action against six former officers and 11 former directors of Silicon Valley Bank over their role in the bank’s collapse and $23 billion hit to the Deposit Insurance Fund.

By Caitlin Mullen • Dec. 18, 2024

Ohio’s Northwest to acquire Penns Woods in $270.4M deal

Buying the holding company for Jersey Shore State Bank and Luzerne Bank will give Northwest 24 added Pennsylvania locations and create a $17 billion-asset bank.

By Dan Ennis • Dec. 18, 2024

ConnectOne CEO could weigh more deals in warming M&A climate

As the bank awaits approval of its purchase of The First of Long Island, ConnectOne’s CEO anticipates enhancements to regulators’ review processes, bringing more streamlined approvals under the Trump administration.

By Caitlin Mullen • Dec. 17, 2024