This article was originally published by BankDirector.com on January 6, 2014. The family dynamic in closely held banks is a powerful driver in bank mergers and acquisitions today, and deals involving closely held financial institutions often take a very different tack than transactions by their publicly traded brethren. Whether […]
Banking Update
Patent Trolls Focus on the Banking Industry
As the Nebraska Attorney General takes to Capitol Hill to testify to the deleterious practices of patent trolls on Nebraska banks and businesses, many institutions are still grappling with exactly what a “patent troll” is, how they operate and why they are allowed to do what they do. Patent […]
FDIC Guidance: Preparing for Rising Interest Rates
With rising interest rates looming somewhere on the horizon, the FDIC has re-emphasized the importance of appropriate interest-rate risk oversight and risk management processes to ensure that banks are positioned to avoid or mitigate risks inherently associated with rising rates.1 FDIC Concerns The FDIC is concerned that certain institutions […]
OCC Releases Updated CRE Lending Booklet
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency recently announced the release of the “Commercial Real Estate Lending” booklet (available here) of the Comptroller’s Handbook to replace its dated “Commercial Real Estate and Construction Lending” booklet, which was issued in 1995. As CRE lending regains traction across the county, the new […]
Increased Loan Volume Leads Lenders to Revisit Environmental Best Practices
Although a lender’s risk of environmental liability is a consideration with any loan, the recent resurgence in commercial real estate and commercial and industrial lending after an extended lull over the last few years has caused some to place renewed emphasis on environmental compliance. Environmental liabilities associated with the […]