Banking

Showing 145–160 of 596 results

  • Bank Wire – FinCEN creates exception to Beneficial Ownership Rule

    Winter 2019
    Newsletter: Community Banking Advisor

    Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50

    Word count: 420

    Abstract: This summary of recent developments in banking discusses the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network’s (FinCEN’s) attempt to combat money laundering and other fraudulent activities via its recent Beneficial Ownership Rule. It also notes that some lenders are considering the use of alternative data to expand access to credit for people with thin credit histories or negative items on their credit reports, and explains that the federal banking agencies have clarified that supervisory guidance “does not have the force and effect of law.”

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  • Growing pains – 5 tips for boosting core deposits

    Winter 2019
    Newsletter: Community Banking Advisor

    Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50

    Word count: 618

    Abstract: As interest rates continue to rise, competition among banks for core deposits is heating up. This creates a challenge for community banks striving to grow their core deposits to fund lending activities. This article offers five tips for attracting core deposits while keeping costs under control, such as the need to avoid short-term fixes, focus on service and specialize.

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  • Keeping due diligence on the front burner

    Winter 2019
    Newsletter: Community Banking Advisor

    Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50

    Word count: 707

    Abstract: Every banker knows the importance of due diligence in determining whether to make a loan. This article suggests some due diligence steps to take to help lenders dig deeper and ensure the bank’s loan portfolio is more secure. These steps include assessing risk from many angles and evaluating the reliability of the financial information a borrower provides. The article points out that, to minimize the potential for problems down the line, uncertainty needs to be quantified, documented and analyzed.

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  • Do you need a bank holding company?

    Winter 2019
    Newsletter: Community Banking Advisor

    Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50

    Word count: 813

    Abstract: For years, the vast majority of U.S. banks have used a bank holding company (BHC) structure. Recently, however, several prominent regional banks have elected to shed their BHCs by merging them into their subsidiary banks. This development has many community banks wondering whether the BHC model has become obsolete. This article discusses the pros and cons of using the BHC structure. A sidebar looks at the advantages of small BHC status.

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  • 4 questions for loan applicants on the brink of a social media meltdown

    Year End 2018
    Newsletter: Commercial Lending Report

    Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50

    Word count: 431

    Abstract: It’s relatively easy for a small business to find itself in the crosshairs of a social media misstep. Everyone seems to have a smartphone and uses it to instantly share positive (and negative) customer experiences on social media sites. Likewise, a company’s marketing department might post images, videos and ads using the company’s social media accounts — and some posts may inadvertently elicit a negative response from customers and other stakeholders, thus reducing sales. This brief article offers four questions to help lenders ascertain whether to fund the resulting short-term cash crunch.

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  • How to help your borrowers reduce waste — and increase profits

    Year End 2018
    Newsletter: Commercial Lending Report

    Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50

    Word count: 550

    Abstract: Helping manufacturing borrowers improve their waste reduction methods can lead to a stronger loan portfolio. This article lists some steps lenders can suggest to borrowers to help them increase efficiency and significantly reduce manufacturing waste — whether in the form of scrap, excess inventory, defects or inefficiencies in workflow. Strategies include preventive maintenance, routine physical inspections and effective quality control.

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  • There’s a report for that! Get the specific information you need with an AUP engagement

    Year End 2018
    Newsletter: Commercial Lending Report

    Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50

    Word count: 669

    Abstract: A full-scale audit serves as a detailed and reliable snapshot of the business’s entire operations. But if a lender needs specific, targeted information on a potential problem, or set of problems, he or she should consider hiring a CPA to perform certain “agreed-upon procedures” (AUPs). This article outlines the differences between AUPs and audits and uses a hypothetical example to illustrate how an AUP works. It also notes that an AUP engagement can help lenders selectively investigate and identify issues that may benefit from immediate action.

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  • Lending to crowdfunded businesses

    Year End 2018
    Newsletter: Commercial Lending Report

    Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50

    Word count: 823

    Abstract: Even an entrepreneur who completes a successful crowdfunding campaign will likely experience short-term cash crunches from time to time. This article suggests some ways for lenders to evaluate the application of a crowdfunded company applying for a short-term loan or line of credit, such as asking applicants with earlier crowdfunding rounds under their belt to provide a detailed accounting of how they used funds from previous campaigns. The article also suggests that lenders need to scrutinize the company’s financial projections, cost structure and revenue projections. A sidebar offers a guide to crowdfunding terminology.

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  • Bank Wire – Fed launches new consumer compliance publication

    Fall 2018
    Newsletter: Community Banking Advisor

    Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50

    Word count: 438

    Abstract: This summary of recent developments in banking discusses a new consumer compliance publication put out by the Federal Reserve Board that provides clarity in interpreting consumer protection regulations. It also notes that the federal banking agencies recently raised the threshold for commercial real estate (CRE) transactions requiring an appraisal from $250,000 to $500,000 and suggests that it’s important for lenders considering working with loan participations to work closely with legal and financial advisors to manage the risks involved.

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  • Noninterest income can keep your bank on course

    Fall 2018
    Newsletter: Community Banking Advisor

    Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50

    Word count: 707

    Abstract: Banks sometimes need to focus on noninterest income because interest income isn’t always enough to maintain a steady and secure bottom line. This article lists the sources of noninterest income, including deposit service charges, loan origination and servicing fees, overdraft and NSF charges, and gains on sales of loans and investment securities. The article notes that it’s important for banks to supplement interest income with other income streams.

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  • Should you partner with a fintech company?

    Fall 2018
    Newsletter: Community Banking Advisor

    Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50

    Word count: 530

    Abstract: Community banks that fail to deliver the digital products and services their customers demand will get left behind. This article explains how banks can partner with fintech companies to develop innovative, customized digital services. The article points out that banks cite several benefits to collaboration, including improving their ability to offer online services — in particular, more convenient and reliable mobile platforms — decreasing technology costs and allowing them to offer lower lending rates.

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  • Vendor risk management – Time to review your program

    Fall 2018
    Newsletter: Community Banking Advisor

    Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50

    Word count: 923

    Abstract: Banks rely on third-party vendors for a range of services. Managing the risks associated with outside vendors is key, because such parties are considered an extension of bank personnel. This article offers suggestions about how banks can minimize exposure by conducting a risk assessment, vetting service providers and using clearly defined contracts, among other strategies. A brief sidebar looks at common weaknesses in vendor risk management programs.

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  • What to look for when lending to a nonprofit entity

    October / November 2018
    Newsletter: Commercial Lending Report

    Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50

    Word count: 436

    Abstract: Lenders interested in providing debt financing to the nonprofit sector must develop the means to evaluate the creditworthiness of an organization that doesn’t make profit its primary goal. This article lists some factors that can help a lender gauge whether a nonprofit presents a prudent risk, such as whether the nonprofit is successful in fulfilling its mission and what its goals and metrics are. The article points out that nonprofits can be viable borrower prospects — if a lender is willing to invest the time to review an application and support the nonprofit’s mission.

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  • An appraisal of your borrower’s collateral can be invaluable

    October / November 2018
    Newsletter: Commercial Lending Report

    Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50

    Word count: 749

    Abstract: It’s important for lenders to take a hard look at the current market value of a borrower’s assets periodically. One way to do so is to obtain a formal asset appraisal. This article explains the most common valuation techniques and how appraisers determine the appropriate standard of value. The article notes that an appraiser also can help a lender understand how much cash a borrower is likely to receive under various liquidation scenarios and help support decisions to reorganize or liquidate.

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  • Lender as detective: How to evaluate management estimates

    October / November 2018
    Newsletter: Commercial Lending Report

    Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50

    Word count: 547

    Abstract: It’s important for lenders to make distinctions between their borrowers’ financial certainties and estimates based on management judgment. Lenders need to be able to ascertain when errors, either intentional or unintentional, may occur — errors that can make a big difference in a borrower’s financial health. This article suggests some strategies for lenders, such as paying attention to accounting estimates and fair value measurements, in helping them determine whether the assumptions behind a borrower’s numbers are valid.

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  • Bouncing back – Lending to businesses in the aftermath of a disaster

    October / November 2018
    Newsletter: Commercial Lending Report

    Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50

    Word count: 868

    Abstract: In the aftermath of a natural or man-made disaster, small businesses often need immediate access to capital to tide them over. But lending to a company experiencing extreme challenges following a major weather event, such as a hurricane or an earthquake, is risky — especially if a business must relocate and rebuild its operations in a new location. This article provides some guidance for lenders in deciding which applicants to approve, offering several criteria to consider — including the extent of the damage, whether a company has dealt with disaster before and its previous performance. A sidebar lists some ways lenders and their banks can support disaster relief efforts.

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