Loans at our nation’s federally-insured credit unions grew by $194 billion (or 16.2%) over the 12 month period ending June 30, 2022. That marks the largest increase in at least 20 years. Provisions for potential losses on those were bolstered…
Bank Assets Decline for 1st Time in 7 Years
In spite of increases in loan balances, both from first quarter and from a year ago, total assets at the nation’s banks declined in the second quarter 2022. (Source: FDIC Quarterly Banking Profile (QBP).) This marks the first quarterly drop…
How Are Americans Coping With Inflation?
About a month ago, the Wall Street Journal ran a story entitled: “Dollar-Store Dinners and Vats of Shampoo Help Families Cope With Inflation” (by Rachel Wolfe August 1, 2022). The basic gist of the story is that many families can…
All New Bank Star-Ratings this Week
All bank star-ratings have now been updated in Jumbo Rate News and on our website. As a result, a number of banks changed categories in the newsletter and, more importantly, several banks have been dropped from our rate pages based…
BOLO: Cracks in CRE Lending
As our analysts scour newly released second quarter bank data, they will have a keen eye out for signs of stress (as always). One thing in particular that Bauer is carefully watching right now is Commercial Real Estate (CRE). Shopping…
What do Ford, GM and Rakuten have in Common?
Last month, Ford Credit Bank, Salt Lake City, UT submitted an application for deposit insurance to the FDIC with the intention of opening a new Industrial Loan Company (ILC) in Utah. This is not the first time Ford has sought…
Rough Road for Farmers & Their Banks
Covid notwithstanding, the last 18 months seem to have been particularly challenging for our nation’s farmers and ranchers. In that year and a half, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) has issued six different proclamations allowing banks…
What You Need to Know About Crypto
The following was released by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) on Friday, July 29, 2022. BauerFinancial felt it was important enough to repeat in its entirety: For Release WASHINGTON – The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) today published the Fact Sheet:…
Credit Union Industry’s Growing Footprint
As the nation’s banking industry continues to contract, losing more than 3,000 branch offices in the 12 month period ending March 31, 2022 (JRN 39:27), credit unions are growing their presence, albeit slowly. During the same 12 month period, federally-insured…
Credit Card Fees: More than Meets the Eye
In keeping with its mandate to protect the collective wallets of U.S. consumers, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is seeking information on late fees assessed by credit card issuers. Specifically, how late fee amounts are calculated, what are issuers…