Laura Alix
American Banker
Jamaica Plain, MA, United States
Contact Laura
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Past articles by Laura:
Expenses expected to keep weighing down bank profits
Wages, marketing spending and technology investments are all on the rise. While higher interest rates should eventually help tame inflation, it's not clear how quickly banks will be able to limit their spending increases. → Read More
Fifth Third, awash in deposits, expects both loan growth and runoff
Executives predict a 5% to 6% bump in lending this year, and they also say they'd be comfortable if up to a third of the Cincinnati company's excess cash migrates away. → Read More
Navient to pay $1.85 billion to settle deceptive lending charges
Under an agreement with 40 state attorneys general, the student lender and servicer agreed to cancel debt for over 66,000 borrowers and pay restitution to another 350,000 borrowers placed in certain types of forbearance. → Read More
Truist hires executives to head auditing, information security
Chief Audit Officer Denise DeMaio will join Truist from MUFG, while Chief Information Security Officer Howard Whyte has experience at Boeing, Goldman Sachs and the FDIC. → Read More
Banks, credit unions urged to waive fees for Holocaust compensation
There are more than 20,000 Holocaust survivors in the New York City area, and roughly a third of them are said to live in poverty. New York-chartered financial institutions should voluntarily waive transfer and processing charges on payments to reparations recipients, the state’s financial services regulator says. → Read More
The Best Banks to Work For — $3 billion to $10 billion of assets
A focus on getting work done more efficiently has prompted these midsize banks to rearrange responsibilities, eliminate red tape and use technology to automate repetitive or tedious tasks. Some are also enhancing leadership development and increasing employee benefits amid an increase in turnover. → Read More
U.S. Bancorp pledges net-zero emissions by 2050
The Minneapolis company is planning a dramatic reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from its operations and the activities it finances, matching a commitment made by many of the nation’s largest financial institutions. → Read More
The demise of branches is overstated, big-bank executives say
Even as the pandemic has hastened adoption of digital banking, industry officials say branches remain vital points of contact with consumers. → Read More
Regions hires Truist banker to lead New Markets Tax Credit practice
Steve Ross, a community revitalization expert for Truist Financial, will lead a newly created team focused on social-impact investments and other tax credit investment services for Regions Financial in Alabama. → Read More
Capital One backs away from efficiency target as spending rises
The credit card issuer benefited from consumer loan growth in the third quarter, but investors seemed spooked by increases in its marketing and technology costs. → Read More
Associated hires executive to lead equipment finance business
The hiring of Scott Dienes, a former Wells Fargo banker, is part of a broader plan to boost lending at the Wisconsin company. → Read More
Citizens Financial eyes more wealth management acquisitions
Though the Providence, Rhode Island, bank is in the midst of three deals, CEO Bruce Van Saun said it remains on the lookout for other nonbank purchases that could help boost fee income and generate cross-selling opportunities. → Read More
Lending surge pushes Signature’s assets above $100 billion
Strong growth in loans to private equity and venture capital firms fueled a 74% increase in third-quarter profits — and helped the New York bank hit a new milestone. → Read More
Synovus executive, three others die in plane crash
Jonathan Rosen, CEO of the specialty finance division at Synovus Financial, perished with his assistant, his daughter and her friend when the plane that Rosen was piloting crashed. Authorities have not yet determined the cause of the accident. → Read More
One bank’s response to climate change: Financing condo retrofits
Climate First Bank in St. Petersburg, Florida, is offering loans for condominium improvements that will reduce carbon emissions while fortifying buildings against serious weather events. More banks may implement similar programs in the years ahead. → Read More
Citizens joins list of banks helping customers avoid overdraft fees
The Rhode Island company unveiled a feature that gives depositors extra time to bring their account balances positive. It also plans to launch an overdraft fee-free account early next year. → Read More
Most Powerful Women in Banking: No. 21, Zions Bancorp's Jennifer Smith
Smith, who heads technology and operations, is overseeing two major tech initiatives: the conversion of Zions' core banking systems and the construction of a new, 400,000-square-foot technology center. → Read More
Most Powerful Women in Banking: No. 6, Bank of the West's Nandita Bakhshi
The president and CEO is building a pipeline of top female talent by placing more women in revenue-producing roles. → Read More
Regions buying California commercial real estate lender
The acquisition of Sabal Capital Partners, which has been growing its footprint in commercial mortgage-backed securities lending, will help the Alabama bank build out its capital markets business. → Read More
First Horizon names COO Restel president of regional banking
The move is one of several the company announced this week and appears to position Anthony Restel, the current chief operating officer, as a potential successor to CEO Bryan Jordan. → Read More