There is a lot of news in this week’s wrap-up from my Twitter feed:
Trending
Makeup of US market is changing rapidly. Take a look at this info about various ethnic groups http://t.co/AxAUyy09Jd pic.twitter.com/W6KlqnRHPG
— Jim Perry (@mi_jim) April 6, 2015
Mergers, Acquisition – Expansion, Consolidation
- Only 2 credit unions failed or closed in the first QTR of 2015, compared to eight in the first 3 months of 2014 http://bit.ly/1NZ05ds
- WI-based Anchor Bank has announced it plans to consolidate and close six bank branches, eliminate 30 jobs http://bit.ly/1IyPNCD
- Andover Bank to acquire Community National Bank of Northwestern Pennsylvania http://bit.ly/1IQjQlN
- Regulators OK merger of Premier Members, Boulder Valley credit union http://dpo.st/1DnzMfA
- Florida Community Bank has applied to close three bank branches throughout South Florida http://bit.ly/1NdV8CA
- Vibra Bank and Pacific Commerce merger completed http://bit.ly/1CyXmAI
- Abilene, TX-based First Financial acquires Fort Worth mortgage firm http://bit.ly/1GsfLXE
- ValleyStar Credit Union to enter Roanoke Valley market http://bit.ly/1FfX2y8
- Ware, MA’s Country Bank to open Worcester branch http://bit.ly/1H47cRZ
- BMO Harris Bank sells 11 Phoenix bank branches for $25M in leaseback deal http://bit.ly/1CUlD83
- NuPath Community Credit Union merges with Community Choice Credit Union http://bit.ly/1HQ1uBi
- Guaranty Bank & Trust expands into DFW market with acquisition of Preston State Bank http://bit.ly/1CUl4uT
- Nashville’s Pinnacle Bank to acquire CapitalMark Bank & Trust in Chattanooga for $187M http://bit.ly/1H46c0b
- Banking M&A Outlook from @Deloitte: Top Issues Point to a Rebound http://bit.ly/1N8kMbT via @WSJ
- In Illinois, the parent company of Community State Bank in Galva to acquire Franklin Bank http://bit.ly/1IowH1O
- Sturgis Bancorp, Inc. completes acquisition of West Michigan Savings Bank http://bit.ly/1a28Q9a
- Iowa’s R.I.A. Federal Credit Union celebrates new headquarters http://bit.ly/1N2NI53
- Investors Bank is opening a branch at Jersey City, NJ’s Hub shopping center, which has been w/out a bank for 5+ years http://bit.ly/1y0Aq25
- Hudson City, M&T Bank merger delayed again http://on.wsj.com/1HHxIyt
- In Michigan, @ChemicalBank completes Monarch Bancorp acquisition http://bit.ly/1y0zOJJ
- FNB Chillicothe to merge with American National http://bit.ly/1D0r7j0
- Bank branch in Nogales, AZ is poised to get its fourth name in five years http://bit.ly/1yOFkKo
- Fresh off branch acquisitions, NC’s BB&T Bank sets its plan of attack on Houston http://bit.ly/1DRIB1z
- Wintrust announces its second acquisition in four days; picks up IL-based North Bank for about $17M http://bit.ly/1Cs5rHm
Branch Evolution
- It isn’t just banks closing bricks & mortar: Walgreens to close 200 U.S. stores http://trib.al/HPPCAcI via @CrainsChicago
- Ohio Valley Bank opens 3,500 sq ft $2M hi-tech branch, including “VeeBees” (virtual bankers) http://bit.ly/1aJE9af
- Comerica debuts the tellerless bank branch in Phoenix, AZ http://bit.ly/1FvFY4B
Marketing & Branding
GA’s @PinnacleBank spotlights small business customer in “Small Town Stories” https://t.co/HahSWRU5ns Great vid, not many views so far!
— Jim Perry (@mi_jim) April 8, 2015
- Hey bank/CU marketers: in @adage, @dberkowitz looks at 4 technologies that can help brands bring storymaking to life http://bit.ly/1DP5Wmi
- Here’s a look at marketing trends in the UK’s banking and financial sector in 2015 http://bit.ly/1chfIRL
- First Midwest Bank launches First Midwest Equipment Finance, a re-brand of a leasing company bank acquired in 2014 http://cnnmon.ie/1GSbNpW
- ICYMI: Take a look at how @AllyBank talks about discovering retirement http://bit.ly/1IJqk5U
- Banplus, a bank in Venezuela, came up with way for people never to forget how to donate to Alzheimer’s organizations https://youtu.be/THOkqjmpRC8
- Joseph, OR’s Community Bank launches Facebook “Traveling HAMilton Photo Contest” http://bit.ly/1DGlf0p
- CO’s @efirstbank targets male home buyer w/Man-O-Flage http://bit.ly/1MXwCW6 video here: http://bit.ly/1IjK2II
Mobile & Digital Transformation
- Wright-Patt Credit Union customers are first in US to do banking on Android Wear smartwatches http://bit.ly/1DolPxK
- The @FinancialBrand‘s @JimMarous shares two views of banking’s digital future from @brettking and @MichalPanowicz http://bit.ly/1y7Mdvl
- Australians will be able to do their banking on the Apple Watch http://on.mash.to/1CjLEeA
- Despite gratuitous headline, @FinancialBrand‘s “Has Mobile Banking Usage Reached a Plateau?” has good info from Fed http://bit.ly/1IHZSJS
- Another look: Half of US adults w/smartphone are using mobile banking http://read.bi/1H0GF81 via @businessinsider
- The @FinancialTimes looks at how bank systems creak under weight of digital transactions http://on.ft.com/1JeAHPX
- Story on @MorningEdition: whether Millennials are cash-free. http://n.pr/1DE9YxC Wish @nprmontagne had looked closer at virtual wallets.
Industry News
- Fed branch chief hears tales of banking woe from CO pot business owners http://dpo.st/1aQnWzV
- Survey shows CUs concerned about insider threats – 83% fear confidential info transfer to unauthorized recipients http://bit.ly/1PnsYDE
- Debbie Matz, @TheNCUA board chair, held roundtable discussions with CU leaders in North & South Dakota http://bit.ly/1CkCVJ0
- Navy Federal Credit Union closed over $1B in mortgages in March, $2.5B year-to-date http://bit.ly/1IngOIX
- 69 credit unions across Oregon & Southwest Washington added 81,465 members to their financial cooperatives last year http://bit.ly/1yOGHc5
- Data from Ohio Credit Union League cited in story: numbers lend optimism to credit unions’ rebound in Ohio http://bit.ly/1DEgWCR
- OH’s Belmont Savings Bank received a “needs to improve” rating from FDIC for compliance w/Community Reinvestment Act http://1.usa.gov/1DEdFn6
That’s all for this week. Please share this with your colleagues. If we missed an important story, drop me a note.