Jim Dobbs, American Banker

Jim Dobbs

American Banker

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Recent:
  • Unknown
Past:
  • American Banker
  • Credit Union Journal

Past articles by Jim:

Will commercial real estate loan losses be the next big problem for banks?

Analysts are increasingly focused on rising office property vacancy rates, driven by remote-work trends and higher costs of living. They are worried that cash-strapped landlords could default on loans and cause losses in banks' CRE portfolios. → Read More

Small banks, credit unions work to quell panic after Silicon Valley Bank fails

Community lenders do not share the problems that led to the downfall of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank — but their customers and members don't always know that. → Read More

Lake Shore Bancorp CEO to step down in wake of regulatory consent order

The upstate New York company said in a regulatory filing that Daniel Reininga, who has been chief executive for 12 years, will retire on March 10, following a cybersecurity attack and an OCC crackdown. → Read More

SouthState in Florida to part ways with executive chairman

Robert Hill Jr., who had been CEO of the company before it merged with CenterState Bank in 2020, will resign in April. The company says it's replacing his position with a nonexecutive chairman "as part of a broader, ongoing effort to enhance the independence of the company's board." → Read More

Citizens sees more commercial loan growth as businesses keep investing

The specter of an economic downturn looms, but many companies are still in growth mode, according to Donald McCree, head of commercial banking at the Rhode Island bank. "We continue to hear from a lot of companies that they are doing quite well," he said. → Read More

Ex-bank president in North Dakota gets prison time after guilty plea

Brady Torgerson, former president of First Security Bank-West, was sentenced to two years in federal prison after pleading guilty to fraud at two banks. → Read More

Energy-sector lenders see enduring demand for fossil fuels

Banks expect strong global consumption of U.S. oil and gas, driven in part by the supply strain that followed Russia's invasion of Ukraine. → Read More

New lender to serve minority entrepreneurs in New Mexico

Albuquerque-based One Hope Financial Institution will focus on small-business owners who have been historically excluded from traditional banking services. → Read More

TD, First Horizon again extend deadline for closing merger

The two banks are now targeting May 27, three months later than their previous goal. The transaction, which would create a top-six U.S. bank by asset size, was originally expected to be completed last fall. → Read More

Black-owned bank in Ohio is first de novo approved in 2023

Adelphi Bank in Columbus was given the green light by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. to open. → Read More

Banks tighten credit standards, loan demand wanes

Bank executives are slowing their momentum across commercial and consumer lending segments, a Federal Reserve report finds. Many still expect growth this year, but not as much as in 2022. → Read More

BayFirst Financial in Florida picks president to be next CEO

Thomas Zernick will become chief executive of the Florida bank when Anthony Leo retires at the start of 2024. → Read More

Bankers see pockets of strength amid recession indicators

Indexes show heightened expectations for a recession and souring loans. But executives are upbeat about middle- market businesses and overall job growth. → Read More

Energy drives BOK Financial's growth, but health care is a potential concern

The Oklahoma bank grew fourth-quarter loans at a steady rate and said its regional economy is solid. But it is closely watching the impact of rising senior-care costs. → Read More

U.S. Bancorp sees big opportunity in California after Union Bank deal

With the $7.5 billion acquisition, the Minneapolis bank bolstered its customer base in the nation's most populous state by more than 1 million. Earnings accretion from the combination could offset slower loan growth this year. → Read More

Bankers, economists expect 'shallow' recession

Members of the American Bankers Association's Economic Advisory Committee expect gross domestic product to stall in 2023. Other surveys show a modest contraction. Lenders say sentiment among their borrowers also points to a slight slowdown. → Read More

Huntington CEO sees pockets of lending strength amid 'mild' recession

The Ohio bank posted strong fourth-quarter earnings and, while it expects activity to ease some, it envisions continued strong loan growth in the year ahead. → Read More

PNC Financial girds for 'shallow' recession, builds reserves

The Pittsburgh bank posted a solid profit and said that it expects continued loan growth. But the pace of business expansion could slow alongside an economic downturn. → Read More

Why bank stocks may not be ready to bounce back

Investors worry the intersection of rising interest rates and festering inflation could conjure a recession and drive loan losses. This would keep stock prices suppressed, but share buybacks and merger activity could counter that. → Read More

North Carolina bank's chief executive dies in plane crash

Eric Bergevin, president and CEO of Integrated Financial Holdings, was killed in the Jan. 7 accident, the Raleigh-based company said. → Read More