Recent News
Earlier this month, Commercial Capital Bank announced its intention to purchase First State Bank of Crossett, which has approximately $35.7 million in assets and two locations in Crossett, Arkansas. First State Bank has a business footprint in Louisiana's northeastern parishes. The banks expect the transition to close in the second quarter of 2018. "We are excited to combine with such a strong partner as First State Bank," said Commercial Capital President and CEO Shannon Lockard.
Darrin Williams, CEO of Southern Bancorp in Arkadelphia, AR, has written an op-ed on the financial benefits of helping small lenders to serve borrowers in bank deserts. "The Mississippi Delta may seem to be the farthest place in the world from New York City's financial heart. But, in fact, there is an opportunity to connect rural America with Wall Street and benefit both places," he writes. "A major opportunity exists to serve these communities, and Wall Street firms do not need a bank branch of their own to reap the reward."
This article from the American Banker features efforts by M&F Bank in Durham to reach more millennial customers. The bank recently formed a millennial advisory board to help improve its technology and marketing efforts. The $268 million-asset black-owned bank will soon debut a checking account designed for younger customers. It is also set to host parties in two cities to celebrate its new checking account. The events will feature food trucks and a DJ. "I've never had a DJ at an account opening," said F&M's President and CEO James Sills. "We're thinking differently... Read more
In the wake of recently passed federal tax cuts and reforms, First Southwest Bank in Alamosa, CO has become the latest US employer to announce a raise in starting pay, at $14 an hour with full benefits. "We're excited to take advantage of the tax reform and give the positive impact it has on First Southwest Bank right back to our team members and the rural Colorado community," said First Southwest CEO Kent Curtis. "By being able to provide a higher living wage to our starting employees, and invest in our team, we can be a catalyst for economic growth, and reaffirm our... Read more
Through the Richmond Fed's Survey of CDFIs in the Southeast (SCDFISE), CDFIs provide timely information on their capitalization, demand, and capacity, and development programs and services. This article presents key findings from the 2017 SCDFISE, including trends in CDFI certification, analysis of asset size, and perennial challenges in meeting demand for products and services provided by southern CDFIs.
The Senate is looking to pass legislation within the next month that would roll back restrictions on swaths of the finance industry. Such legislation would constitute the most significant loosening of rules imposed in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis. Buoyed by their success in rewriting the tax code, Republican lawmakers now aim to help the financial industry relax many post-crisis rules and regulatory obligations, particularly for thousands of small- and medium-sized banks. The bill would allow hundreds of smaller banks to avoid certain elements of federal oversight.
A new provision in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act lays the foundation for placing trillions of dollars in unrealized capital gains into investment funds to drive long-term capital to distressed communities. The new Opportunity Zone Program provides tax benefits in Opportunity Funds, or "O Funds." O Funds will activate passive holdings by connecting investors to investment opportunities in Opportunity Zones. This concept, which was originally introduced in the Investing in Opportunity Act, is the first new community development tax incentive program introduced since the Clinton Administration.... Read more
According to Harvard University JCHS' newly released report, "America's Rental Housing 2017", unprecedented growth in the rental housing market is slowing amidst persistent affordability challenged for low- and moderate-income renter households. The report finds that fewer new renter households are being formed, rental vacancy rates have risen, and rent increases have slowed. At the same time, renter demographics are changing and rental affordability challenges remain prevalent.
We are seeking a high energy and dynamic candidate for the position of Public Policy Manager. The Manager will advance our public policy advocacy agenda. The position reports to Chief Executive Officer, but works with all members of the team. This is a full time 40 hour per week position. The position is located at CDBA's offices in Washington, DC. Click here to read the full description.
The tax reform law enacted in late 2017 is already threatening to exacerbate the affordable housing crisis. The law is expected to eliminate 300,000 affordable housing units over 10 years, partly because it will reduce the value of banks' low-income tax credits, which finance half of all affordable housing units, according to a report by the nonprofit real estate firm NHP Foundation. Lowering the corporate tax rate reduces the value of the tax credits by roughly 15% because banks and partnerships that use the tax credits are limited in deductions on appreciating expenses.
In Portland, Oregon, a movement is building to establish a public bank. After debating divestment from companies whose practices might be harmful to people or the environment, the City Council voted in April to stop investing city money in all corporations. Portland is also one of the numerous US cities that decided to stop banking with Wells Fargo. "My hope is that a public bank wout be a profit-making institution, expect the profit would be for public purposes," said David Delk, of the Portland Public Banking Alliance. "The possibilities are limited really only by our imagination because... Read more
A growing number of cities across the United States are considering launching city-owned public banks. Among these are Portland, Seattle, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland, Philadelphia, Santa Fe, and Washington DC. The Public Banking Institute, a national advocacy nonprofit, has been supporting these and many other campaigns. At the state level, New Jersey's governor-elect Phil Murphy, who spent 23 years at Goldman Sachs, has expressed interest in establishing a state public bank.
Commerce Bancorp, of Greenwood, MS, is acquiring all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of Tallahatchie Holding Co. of Charleston. The share exchange deal was signed on November 29, 2017, and will see Tallahatchie County Bank's single branch and $58 million in assets merge to Bank of Commerce, with five pre-existing branches and $395 million in assets.
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In Mississippi, Commerce Bancorp Inc. of... Read more
Old Second Bancorp. A $2.4 billion-asset bank in Aurora, IL, has agreed to buy Greater Chicago Financial, the parent of $350.4 million-asset ABC Bank. The deal, which is expected to close in the second quarter, values Greater Chicago at 119% of its tangible book value. "ABC Bank's four offices and more than a century of service in the Chicago market are a great complement to our existing footprint," said James Eccher, Old Second's President and CEO.
The First, A National Banking Association is serving as the title sponsor to the Economic Outlook 2018 Forum hosted by the University of Southern Mississippi. The forum will convene experts from banking, finance, and academia to explore a number of issues and research related to the economic outlook for 2018. "The Economic Outlook Forum continues to grow every year, and we expect another large turnout," said Hoppy Cole, President and CEO of The First. "It gives us an opportunity to visit with people from the Gulf South region, to find out what is going on and how our... Read more
Wells Fargo has donated a 105-year-old iconic bank building in downtown Roanoke to Virginia Community Capital, which plans to open a dialogue with residents about what the structure could become. Leah Fremouw, Director of Community Impact at VCC, said that their organization intends to "direct the redevelopment off the 55,000-square-foot property into a practical use that further strengthens the central core of the city, enhances economic development, creates jobs, and potentially expands downtown development opportunities for others."
This article highlights Spring Bank's Grow Loan Program for small businesses with capital needs of less than $150,000 -- a typical cutoff for small business loans from a bank. It highlights the beneficial effects of the program on specific ventures spearheaded by women and minority entrepreneurs. "If you look at every one of our Grow Loan clients, you will find a really compelling story in every one of them," said Ines Marino, Spring Bank's director of small business lending.
Amalgamated Bank in New York, which recently agreed to buy a West Coast institution, has big plans to operate in a number of major U.S. cities. Amalgamated, for its part, envisions becoming an institution with operations in other left-leaning cities such as Austin, Texas; Boston; and Chicago, said Keith Mestrich, the bank's president and CEO. Expansion could involve branches or acquisitions. Amalagamated Bank, alongside CDBA members Southern Bancorp, Sunrise Banks, and Beneficial State Bank, is a part of the Global Alliance for Banking on Values -- a group focused on reaching underserved... Read more
In this article, Carl Hairston, Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer at City First Bank, is interviewed by the Huffington Post on corporate social responsibility and the ideal framework for deepening company impact. "98% of bank deposits in DC are placed within 24 banks, and those 24 all make more investments outside of the DC market than they do within it," Hairston explained. "Our mission is to go to whatever prudent and reasonable lengths we can in order to help those individuals access the working capital they need for viable credit opportunities."
This week, the Board of Trustees for Adams State University in Alamosa, Colorado approved the naming of the new First Southwest Bank Center for Economic Opportunity on campus. The center will open in January 2018 and will focus on community-based strategic planning and trainings to promote local business startups, thereby improving job creation, job retention, and local income levels. The University's expertise in business education and community partnerships will inform the project design and approach.