If we’ve learned anything in the past year and a half, it’s that nothing is foolproof. Nor is anything 100% predictable. In much the same way that New York cabbies (and the institutions that financed them) had to deal with…
Nine Pending Bank Acquisitions by CUs
When we last reported on Credit Union-Bank acquisitions in April (JRN 38:16), we said they were heating up, and they sure have. The third quarter was particularly active. One such transaction involves JRN listee 5-Star Financial Federal Bank, Memphis, TN,…
Community Banks Critical for Small Businesses
According to the Federal Reserve’s 2021 Small Business Credit Survey, 48% of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) applicants went to community banks for funding while only 43% went to Big Banks. What’s more, 78% of those that applied at community banks…
C.U. Star-Ratings Updated with Q2 Data
All bank and Credit Union star-ratings have been updated on our website based on Q2 financial data. While we have spent the past two weeks digging deeper into the results for banks, this week we shift our attention towards federally-insured…
U.S. Consumers Bullish on Borrowing
Coral Gables, Florida, September 15, 2021 Coral Gables, FL: BauerFinancial, Inc., the nation’s premier Bank and Credit Union rating firm, has completed its analysis of second quarter 2021 data. All star-ratings are now updated at bauerfinancial.com to reflect the changes.…
Loan Balances Grow for 1st Time Since Last June
After a year of belt-tightening, loan balances at our nation’s banks grew slightly ($33.2 billion or 0.3%) during the second quarter of 2021. In spite of banks’ eagerness to lend, loan balances remain well below (1.2%) the levels of the…
Deposit Growth Slows, Doesn’t Stop
Deposits continue to climb at our nation’s banks, but the growth has slowed considerably since the early days of the pandemic. Deposit growth in the first and second quarters of 2020 was 7½% or better whereas second quarter of 2021…
All Bank Ratings Now as of June 30, 2021 Data
All bank star-ratings are now updated in Jumbo Rate News and on our website (bauerfinancial.com); credit union star ratings and reports will be updated in early September. We are pleasantly surprised at how well our Nation’s banks are holding up…
The Credit Card You Seek May be Closer…
During the 12 months ended March 31, 2021, credit card loans outstanding from the nation’s banks dropped a stunning 12.8%, and an even more notable 19.2% lower than their peak at the close of 2019. Preliminary reports suggest that downward…
Consumer Loan Growth Bucks Trend at Some Banks
During the last nine months of 2020, many Americans took advantage of government stimulus and forbearance on mortgage loans to pay down (or off) personal debt. As a result, from March 31, 2020 to March 31, 2021 the banking industry…