Jim Dobbs

Agricultural lenders expect only 58% of their borrowers will remain profitable this year compared to 78% in 2023, creating the specter of increased loan losses.

Lower borrowing costs, reduced exposure to the urban office sector and flattening vacancy rates could collectively save lenders from beleaguered corners of the commercial real estate market.

Analysts say lenders' shares could rally on deregulation, lighter tax burdens and a resurgence of M&A. Declining interest rates and lower loan losses could further bolster bottom lines and attract investor interest.

UPDATE: This article includes information from the banks' conference call and analysts' comments.

Community banks barely grew loans in the third quarter — and the struggle for momentum could drag into 2025, despite interest rate cuts and post-election clarity on regulation.

Several companies filled leadership posts throughout the country, including Clarion County Community Bank's hiring of Travis Heiser to become its CEO.

United Community Banks is back to doing deals.

Rockland, Massachusetts-based Independent Bank Corp. said Monday it would acquire rival Enterprise Bancorp in suburban Boston in a cash-and-stock deal valued at $562 million.

The labor market revival in November did not on its own deter another interest-rate cut this week — welcomed news for lenders — but bank investors

Struggling to chart a new growth path after nixing its planned merger with an aspiring neobank, Stamford, Connecticut-based Patriot National Bancorp