Hilary Burns

Innovation is part of Emily Girsch's daily routine. That's why the chief financial officer at Lincoln Savings Bank in Cedar Falls, Iowa, spends a lot of time thinking about the need to modernize bank regulations for the digital age.

Bonnie Lee will succeed C.G. Kum, who is retiring as CEO next month.

The Massachusetts mutual hired two former bankers from Blue Hills Bancorp, which was recently sold to Independent Bank.

New banks need to add loans to turn a profit. The problem for many is finding the lenders necessary to make that happen.

Lining up leadership and securing staff support are important building blocks for banks eager to become more tech savvy.

While regulators now seem eager to help, organizers are discovering that they must raise more capital and have diverse business models to get charters approved.

Community Bank of the Carolinas must raise about $4 million before becoming the state’s first new bank since the financial crisis.

Sure, M&A is a good option, but so are branch deals or key hires, say two veteran bankers who shared some of their successful strategies at American Banker’s Retail Banking Growth Stories conference.

The deal between Performance Trust and Banks Street Partners is the second combination this month of investment banks that cater to commercial banks.

Alex Sanchez acknowledges that the U.S. has a lot of banks and many failed in the crisis, but he says a healthy economy needs a fresh supply of community lenders to nurture entrepreneurs.