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Businesses Upbeat But CFPB Screams “Help”

The latest Beige Book, released March 3rd and based on information collected through February 22nd, indicates that most businesses are optimistic with the roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccine. Employment levels, already slowly on the rise, are expected to continue that…

New Bank Data Shows Income Down But Not Out

All bank star-ratings and reports are now based on year-end 2020 financial data. (Credit Unions will be updated soon.) Three new banks opened their doors during the fourth quarter, bringing the total number of de novos for 2020 up to…

Loans to bank insiders - PPP Application Approved

Loans to Bank Insiders Top $34 Billion

Loans to bank insiders often arouse negative feelings to bank outsiders. Those people often hear news of inordinate salaries or bonuses paid to bank CEOs. So we were not surprised when there was pushback to the idea of forgiving certain…

common bond can mean struggling together

When Common Bond Means Struggling Together

We may be tired of hearing that “we’re all in this together”, but for credit union members (who are also owners) their common bond makes it true. In good times, this common bond is a source of strength: a group…

PPP May Also be Available from Your Credit Union

PPP: Also Available From Your Credit Union

As of January 31st, 4,942 lenders were participating in the new 2021 Paycheck Protection Program. The vast majority are banks, but credit unions are doing their part as well. According to the Small Business Administration (SBA), during the first month…

Cautious Consumers Cut Credit Card Consumption

Since the pandemic began, not only are Americans cutting back on new credit card purchases, many consumers have been working to lower their balances. At the end of 2019, credit card balances at U.S. banks stood at over $941 billion.…

She’s Back… What will Dr. Yellen Bring?

Note: Since this article was written, Janet Yellen was confirmed (84-15) and was sworn in as the first Female Treasury Secretary in U.S. history on Tuesday morning. The original story follows: Janet Yellen has not been confirmed yet, but we…

Image of Martin Luther King Monument with PPP Round 2

PPP Relaunch Open to Select Institutions

We know many small businesses were left behind in the first round of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. That’s why when the Treasury Department reopened the portal on Monday, it granted access exclusively to Community Financial Institutions (CFIs). CFIs, which…

Loans: a Bank’s Best Asset, Until They’re Not

Although business models vary, the optimal loan to deposit ratio (LTD) at a bank is generally considered to be between 80% to 90%. At this level, the bank is lending sufficiently for its size, but not so much that its…

We Made it Through 2020, What’s Next?

As we say good-bye (and good riddance) to 2020 and look forward with hope for a brighter and healthier 2021, we remember 2020 as a year of loss. We’ve lost a great number of lives, jobs, and freedoms in the…

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Businesses Upbeat But CFPB Screams “Help”

New Bank Data Shows Income Down But Not Out

Loans to Bank Insiders Top $34 Billion

When Common Bond Means Struggling Together

PPP: Also Available From Your Credit Union

Cautious Consumers Cut Credit Card Consumption

She’s Back… What will Dr. Yellen Bring?

PPP Relaunch Open to Select Institutions

Loans: a Bank’s Best Asset, Until They’re Not

We Made it Through 2020, What’s Next?

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