A group of West Coast banks have banded together to save community development bank Pan American Bank in Los Angeles (not to be confused with Illinois-based CDBA member Pan American Bank). Pan American was facing a potential failure after the collapse of a capital raise in May. The $41 million-asset bank has now been recapitalized after raising $6.3 million from 16 banks. None of the banks will hold more than a 4.9% stake in Pan American, and the Hispanic-focused bank is expected to maintain its MDI status. Pan American also named Robb Evans as interim chairman and chief executive, filling... Read more

An FDIC report profiling Minority Depository Institutions and CDFI banks highlights the small size of the two sectors and their high degree of overlap. MDI and CDFI banks account for a small amount of the broader banking industry. As of year-end 2013, 174 insured institutions, 2.6 percent of all banks, were MDIs. The number of insured institutions certified as CDFIs totals 78, or 1.1 percent of all insured institutions. Of the 78 CDFI banks, 41 were also MDIs. Most MDIs and CDFI banks are community banks -- 88 percent of MDIs and 97 percent of FDIC-insured CDFIs. 

One PacificCoast Bank has rebranded, changing its name to Beneficial State Bank. The new title reflects the bank's commitment to "beneficial banking," which they define as environmentally-friendly banking that supports the local economy. The bank's new acorn logo both symbolizes the growth potential of beneficial banking and evokes the bank's hometown, Oakland, Calif. "Beneficial State Bank offers our customers a new kind of bank and the tools they need to build something beautiful. Beneficial Banking was made to serve those who are creating a better world... Read more

Auto loans to subprime borrowers have risen more than 130 percent in the past five years, driven by the same dynamics at work in subprime mortgages during the financial crisis. High rates and steady profits on the loans are attracting investors including some of the nation’s biggest banks and private equity firms. They are then bundled into complex bonds and sold as securities by banks. The loans are typically at least twice the size of the value of the used cars purchased and can come with interest rates above 23 percent. Many of the loans include battered vehicles with mechanical defects... Read more

Southern Bancorp has announced that Helena, Arkansas-based boutique Bella is runner-up in their Helena Start-Up Challenge business plan competition. The Helena Start-Up Challenge awards entrepreneurs seed capital to turn their business concepts into start-ups. “Bella was started out of a desire to provide area women with stylish, appealing and affordable clothing," said Jordan Yancey, Bella co-owner. "We also wanted to give back to the Delta community, and starting a business downtown that fills the retail clothing gap is one of the best ways we could think of to do that... Read more

Lawmakers, financial groups and U.S. Postal Service employees met this week to discuss a proposal by the postal agency's inspector general to introduce lending and other services at post offices nationwide. Speakers at the conference included Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), who lauded the idea as a way to provide affordable financial products to the underbanked, and Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), who raised doubts about the viability of the plan in what he sees as a troubled industry. According to USPS inspector general David Williams, the agency has already started to hear from... Read more

Housing finance experts Ellen Seidman, Laurie Goodman and Jim Parrott discuss the history of the stalled Johnson-Crapo GSE-reform bill and the likelihood of further action. Although Johnson-Crapo contained an incentive intended to ensure that the system would serve low income borrowers, progressive members of the Senate Banking Committee were uneasy with the impact of increased risk-based pricing and higher capital requirements on the cost of borrowing. Although consensus emerged on many issues, addressing the concerns of the progressives became incompatible with retaining the bill’s... Read more

David Reiling, CEO of Sunrise Banks, appeared on Minneapolis' ABC affiliate to discuss the impact of B-Corporations, which have recently become recognized in Minnesota. B-Corporations are able to consider impact metrics alongside profits when making business decisions. Mr. Reiling expects a flood of applications for B-Corp status "Looking at a public benefit corporation, that corporation is going to take into account not only the shareholder but also the employees, its community, the environment, and its customers," Reiling said.

The CFPB has reached a $10 million settlement with ACE Cash Express, one of the nation’s largest payday lenders, for its illegal debt collection tactics. The CFPB says ACE threatened consumers with extra fees, being reported to credit reporting agencies and criminal prosecution if they didn’t make payments. Some collectors repeatedly called consumers, their offices and even their relatives, disclosing information about their loans. Of the $10 million settlement, $5 million will be paid to... Read more