It is hard to believe we’ve arrived at the final weekly wrap-up of 2014. I hope these blog posts have helped you stay informed. Even though it was a short week, there are some great stories listed in this recap from my Twitter feed this week:
Trending
Here’s @Forbes America’s Best & Worst Banks 2015 http://t.co/qq8otDElu8 asset quality, capital adequacy & profitability factored in ranking
— Jim Perry (@mi_jim) December 23, 2014
Mergers, Acquisition – Expansion, Consolidation
- Citigroup to sell Japan retail banking business http://nyti.ms/1H233wd
- BofI to buy deposits of Union Federal Savings Bank http://bit.ly/1JQsovj
- Mid Penn Bancorp, Inc. and Phoenix Bancorp, Inc. shareholders approve merger http://bit.ly/1A4wT14
- In Sacramento, CA, Big Valley Federal Credit Union will merge into First U.S. Community Credit Union as of Feb. 1 http://bit.ly/1JQpsPk
- In Wisconsin, U.S. Bank planning branch at Drexel Town Square http://bit.ly/1JQp6ID
- Midwest BankCentre buying Southern Commercial Bank for $74.5M http://bit.ly/1wF8huJ
- Wells Fargo commercial banking primes for eastern expansion, NYC to serve as new Eastern Region hub. http://bit.ly/1CAUdWr
- Largest Iowa credit union plans Council Bluffs branch in 2015 http://bit.ly/1wZyaFu
- Security National Bank of Sioux City announces merger with First Trust & Savings Bank of Moville http://bit.ly/1xdkJ6P
- Citizens National Bank Of Paintsville (KY) completes merger w/The Peoples Security Bank Of Louisa http://prn.to/1x6FKNl
- Federal Housing Finance Agency Approves FHLB Des Moines and FHLB Seattle merger application http://bit.ly/1x6Fuhf
- Scotiabank Peru to acquire Citibank’s retail and commercial banking operations in Peru http://on.mktw.net/1wh41N0
- Stonegate and Community Bank of Broward merger approved by shareholders http://bit.ly/1zNRmpz
- In NY, Bridgehampton National Bank acquires more branches in merger http://bit.ly/1wVucOh
Branch Evolution
- New York among many states with fewer bank branches after 2014 http://bit.ly/1vgNKr0
- In NYC, Amalgamated Bank to shutter six branches as bank changes strategy to focus on the “digital side” http://dnain.fo/1ASXrk5
Marketing & Branding
- Capital One is making wishes come true this holiday season with its #WishForOthers campaign http://bit.ly/1x49Jqq
- Another look at why @TDBank_US #MakeTodayMatter video (http://bit.ly/1vcwaaJ ) hit over 5M views http://bit.ly/16Qe8Uf via @BankTechNews
- Unity Bank in Clinton and its employees have donated a total of $15,000 to food pantries in NJ & PA http://bit.ly/1B104k4
- Nielsen says consumers are redefining holiday optimism; 65% believe we are in a recession http://bit.ly/1E71rmM
- “with trust so low how can banks recover the confidence of their clients?” – 10 suggestions from @Forbes http://onforb.es/1x2sWHM
Mobile & Digital Transformation
- Samsung in talks with @LoopPay to offer its own mobile payment service http://bit.ly/1zmmPwp
- TD Bank launches tablet app http://bit.ly/1xbeBZE “banks must evolve w/consumers’ lifestyles & enable them to connect through all channels”
- Dominance of mobile payments makes @adage list of 10 things that WON’T happen in 2015 http://bit.ly/1AlQCZU
Industry News
- A member became upset and wrecked the inside of Truliant Federal Credit Union, causing more than $25K in damage http://bit.ly/1zeKPkZ
- U.S. Bank names Southern California banker J.P. Perfili as new Portland head of retail banking http://bit.ly/1JNF4D8
- As 2015 approaches, CUs make new hires, promotions, etc. http://bit.ly/1xDQ8iz via @CookeonCUs
- The U.S. government closed the books on TARP with a $15.3 billion profit. http://cnnmon.ie/1AMFGDa
That’s all for this week…and this year. Please share this with your colleagues. If we missed an important story, drop me a note. Happy New Year.