Citi exec: Retail simplification is paying off

“We're not trying to sell different packages or explain the nuances of” various product levels, said Kate Luft, the lender’s head of retail banking. “That's a complication, I would say, externally of Citi right now.”

By Caitlin Mullen • Aug. 13, 2025

Ohio’s First Financial expands Chicago footprint in $142M deal

The acquisition of BankFinancial, set to close in the fourth quarter, comes roughly a month and a half after First Financial proposed a $325 million purchase of a fellow Ohio lender. 

By Rajashree Chakravarty • Aug. 12, 2025

Explore the Trendline➔

Artificial intelligence

Banks must decide whether to forge AI tools in-house or partner with outside firms. AI’s importance can’t be understated, but legacy tech may also constrain the budget for banks looking to innovate.

By Banking Dive staff

Citizens taps Barclays vet as next CFO

Aunoy Banerjee will become Citizens’ CFO in October, replacing John Woods, who’s leaving the Providence, Rhode Island-based regional lender to become CFO at State Street.

By Gabrielle Saulsbery • Aug. 12, 2025

Berkshire, Brookline dub their post-merger brand Beacon

The name draws a strong association with Boston, a key market for both banks. The companies expect the $1.1 billion deal to close by September, with systems integration early next year.

By Dan Ennis • Aug. 11, 2025

Simmons names next chief; CEO Makris to retire

Jay Brogdon will succeed George Makris Jr. after he retires at year end. Marty Casteel, a director of the company, will become chair Jan. 1, 2026.

By Rajashree Chakravarty • Aug. 5, 2025

Fifth Third, expanding to Alabama, aims to ‘show up differently’

The lender’s head of consumer banking touts an open-air atmosphere and “consultative” priority that is far removed from his early-career days as a teller.

By Gabrielle Saulsbery • Aug. 4, 2025

Frost CEO: Lending competition heating up

For the Texas bank, loans lost to other lenders because of structure continued to increase in the second quarter. “I think this represents the level of competition developing in the market,” CEO Phil Green said.

By Caitlin Mullen • Aug. 1, 2025

Capital One delivers few details on $265B community plan

A year after touting a community investment proposal as part of an effort to acquire Discover, the card issuer has yet to lay out program specifics.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • July 30, 2025

Activist investor pressures Comerica to sell

HoldCo alleged that a larger bank could buy Comerica without major capital issues, putting forth PNC, Fifth Third and Huntington as options that “make sense.”

By Gabrielle Saulsbery • July 29, 2025

Pinnacle, Synovus to combine in $8.6B deal

Synovus had been the subject of merger rumors earlier in the week. The deal could stand as a test case for banks primed to cross the $100 billion-asset threshold amid expected Trump-era deregulation.

By Dan Ennis • July 25, 2025

Old National names KeyBank exec president, COO

Tim Burke oversaw commercial banking in 12 markets at KeyBank, including Chicago. He succeeds Mark Sander, who retired from Old National this year.

By Dan Ennis • July 23, 2025

OpenAI’s Altman didn’t expect banks to take to AI so soon

Financial institutions have been surprise early adopters of ChatGPT, and the AI industry is on the advent of "intelligence too cheap to meter," OpenAI's CEO and co-founder said at a Fed event Tuesday.

By Gabrielle Saulsbery • July 22, 2025

PNC, Coinbase team up on crypto-as-a-service

The nation’s largest crypto exchange and its seventh-largest bank are joining in their “commitment to a more resilient digital financial system,” the firms said Tuesday.

By Gabrielle Saulsbery • July 22, 2025

Huntington CFO: Veritex met ‘high bar’ for acquisitions

The Columbus, Ohio-based bank is largely focused on growing organically, although it remains “opportunistic” about compelling deals, the regional’s finance chief said.

By Caitlin Mullen • July 21, 2025

Texas, Wisconsin banks agree to buy in-state peers

Prosperity Bancshares in Texas agreed to buy American Bank in a $321.5 million deal, while Bank First Corp. inked a $174.3 million deal with Centre 1 Bancorp. 

By Rajashree Chakravarty • July 18, 2025

Western Alliance names JPMorgan vet its next CFO

Vishal Idnani will take the CFO reins in January. Dale Gibbons, who’s been the bank’s finance chief for two decades, will become chief banking officer for deposit initiatives and innovation at the lender.

By Caitlin Mullen • July 18, 2025

State Street CTO moves to CIO role

Andrew Zitney shifted into the role this week, filling a vacancy that opened when Brian Franz took a tech leadership position with Estée Lauder in April.

By Matt Ashare • July 18, 2025

Western Alliance to bring most divisions under one brand

All six of the bank’s other brands will be scrapped in favor of a unified Western Alliance moniker by the end of the year.

By Gabrielle Saulsbery • July 17, 2025

Big bank CEOs talk stablecoin plans

The prospect of a more favorable regulatory environment for digital assets has large lenders exploring or plotting stablecoin plans, JPMorgan, BofA, Citi and U.S. Bank executives indicated last week.

By Caitlin Mullen • July 17, 2025

Wells Fargo workers allege union-busting again

Employees rallied in Charlotte on Tuesday to call attention to allegations that a senior HR exec at the bank is coercing workers to decertify their union.

By Gabrielle Saulsbery • July 15, 2025

JPMorgan’s Dimon: Fed independence ‘absolutely critical’

The CEO of the biggest U.S. bank warned Tuesday that “playing around with the Fed can often have adverse consequences.”

By Caitlin Mullen • July 15, 2025

SC’s First Community broaches Atlanta area in $41.6M deal

Buying Signature Bank of Georgia would boost First Community’s Small Business Administration lending and create a bank with 23 locations and roughly $2.3 billion in assets, the companies said.

By Dan Ennis • July 15, 2025

Huntington to buy Texas bank for $1.9B

The Columbus, Ohio-based regional lender will dive deeper into the Lone Star State with the acquisition of Veritex Community Bank’s holding company.

By Gabrielle Saulsbery • July 14, 2025

How Bank of America keeps tabs on what customers want

This year, the Charlotte, North Carolina-based lender has added capabilities related to fraud claims and card arrivals, in response to customer feedback or inquiries, an executive said.

By Caitlin Mullen • July 14, 2025

Pennsylvania banks to merge in $54.9M deal

Wayne Bank, a subsidiary of Norwood Financial Corp., will expand its footprint into central and southeastern Pennsylvania with the acquisition of Presence Bank.

By Rajashree Chakravarty • July 10, 2025