The number of full-time equivalent (FTE) U.S. bank employees dropped 2.2% during calendar 2023 for a loss of over 45,500 jobs. Over 75% of those job losses came from just nine banks with 4-Star Wells Fargo Bank, Sioux Falls, SD…
Cross Border Banking, Double the Fines
The number of U.S. banks under foreign company control is now much less than it was 15 years ago, but the assets at some of those banks, particularly those with Canadian company ownership, have grown tremendously. Canadian firms own currently…
Fed Waived its Magic Wand and Rates Stayed the Same
As the Federal Reserve holds out for signs that inflation is moving steadily down toward its 2% goal, the target Fed Funds rate remains between 5.25% and 5.50%. The downside to that is that banks will have to pay more…
Credit Union Growth Unchained
Whether offering teaser rates to increase membership, opening new branch offices, or acquiring smaller rivals, our nation’s credit unions are growth-driven. In fact, 50 credit unions with 25% or more growth in assets during 2023 can be found on page…
Teach Children (and Adults) to Save and be Savvy
Research has shown that lifelong money patterns and habits are largely established by the second grade. That’s age 7 for most children in the U.S., but children can begin basic concepts of saving and spending as early as age 3.…
Will CRA Derail Capital One-Discover Merger
A poor CRA rating has derailed many mergers in the past. Community activists, in particular, get involved to protest these combinations. In the case of 5-Star Capital One, N.A., McLean, VA, there is nothing in the CRA report to protest…
Bank Deposits Gain Interest, in More Ways than One
During the fourth quarter 2023, for the first time in seven quarters, domestic deposits at our nation’s banks grew. That growth appears to be the direct result of increased interest being paid by these banks. It pays to do your…
Protecting Seniors from Financial Fraud
According to The National Institute on Aging, money problems may be one of the first signs indicating a person has Alzheimer’s or other form of dementia. Combine that with the fact that older Americans hold 65% of U.S. deposit balances,…
Credit Union Membership Nears 140 million
Navy Federal Credit Union claims close to 10% of all members of federally-insured credit unions in the nation. It has roughly the same number of members as the 3,375 credit unions with less than $200 million in assets, combined (73%…
New Community Bank Branches Popping Up
Community banks added 360 new branches during 2023. They were spread out among more than 300 banks, so the majority netted just one new branch. Those that opened two or more and are also rated either 5-Stars or 4-Stars by…