Banking

Banking’s new world order

Despite some advantages, Richmond-based Xenith Bank isn’t tying itself to any outdated promises of profitability.

Monday Q&A: ‘We’re overwhelmed with prospects’

Community Bank Investors of America, better known as CBIA, is a private equity fund founded in 2007 by two locals to identify struggling, undervalued community banks, take an equity position in them and, in some cases, take over leadership of the bank. This week RBS chats with one of the founders about the challenges of that sort of work these days.

Bank of Virginia finds investors

Midlothian-based Bank of Virginia has found a partner that will strengthen its balance sheet and help meet conditions set forth by regulators in January.

M&T doubles profit

A recent addition to the Richmond banking scene, Buffalo-based M&T Bank, doubled its first quarter profit from the previous year. The bank said it earned $151 million during the first quarter, up 136 percent from $64 million. Last year the bank acquired Baltimore-based Provident Bank, which had several branches in the Richmond area. According to… Read more »

Could SunTrust be sold?

SunTrust, a regional bank with major offices in downtown Richmond, might be an acquisition target of an international bank, according to a Credit Suisse investor report. SunTrust is the nation’s seventh largest bank by assets and deposits. From an article in the Washington Business Journal: The analyst said Winston Salem, N.C.-based BB&T Corp. is the… Read more »

Credit union turns brew house into branch

“We have a very busy branch on Glenside Drive; we are trying to serve members in that area by relieving that business there. We have looked for a location for a long time,” said Glenn Birch, a spokesman for the credit union.

“Back to basics” say bankers

Local bankers know they’re not the most popular guys around town these days. But the banking model doesn’t work so well when real estate prices are fluctuating so wildly and major industries are falling by the wayside. There were two banking panels this week both centered around the topic of why banks seem tighter lending than this time two years ago. Both had a similar refrain.

Local bank files plan with regulators

According to the agreement, Bank of Virginia must submit to regulators a plan that improves its loan policies, credit risk management and board oversight, among other requirements. The bank must also complete a management review and develop a strategic plan to improve the bank’s earnings and budget for 2010.