Santander Names New ‘Transformation’ Executive
Santander Bank announced Wednesday morning that Swati Bhatia, formerly of Goldman Sachs’ Marcus banking unit, has taken over its retail banking arm.
Santander Picks Boston for New Branch Format Pilot
Boston will be one of five cities in five states to get Santander’s new experiment in stripped-down branch formats.
Trust Matters in Wealth and Banking
For 30 years, Anne Tangen had served wealth management clients at Fidelity and running a State Street Bank business unit that generated $90 million per year, until she found herself drawn to community banking.
Banks Turn to ITMs to Evolve Branches
Some of the largest local banks in Eastern and Central Massachusetts are using video-enabled ATMs to free branch staff to provide higher-touch advice and service to customers.
From Megabank to Mutual Bank
Worcester County’s Cornerstone Bank is facing off in a fight for deposits against some of the same giant banks where its head of retail banking, Altaf Ahmed, worked for 20 years.
A Data-Driven Approach to Branches
Nancy Nesbitt’s four-decade career in commercial real estate, economic development and banking gives her the experience she needs at AccuBranch to help lenders build their branch strategies.
Why We’ve Grown Metro CU’s Branch Network by 25 Percent
Despite many consumers opting for a digital-first banking experience, many customers still want in-person interactions for a range of different services, even if they may use online tools for other banking activities.
Community Banks Look to Future as Branches’ Role Evolves
Two years after the start of the pandemic drove more customers to adopt digital banking when branch lobbies closed, a recent study found that Boston has one of the highest increases in branch closings among U.S. metropolitan areas.
Bank Looks to Preserve History and Community
Traveling round trip between Martha’s Vineyard and Falmouth might take three hours, but for Martha’s Vineyard Bank and its president and CEO, James Anthony, the two locations make up one community.
Which Branches Will Eastern Close in Century Merger?
Eastern Bank has not yet identified which branches will close as part of its merger with Century Bank, but the state bank regulator expects Eastern to seek approval for branch closures, according to the latest public notice for the proposed merger.
Community Banks Join Larger Banks in Closing Branches
As several regional and national banks reduce their branch footprints in Massachusetts and pending mergers likely to come with branch consolidations, the state’s community banks have been closing some branches as well.
A Branch Expansion While Others Retreat
While several banks have announced plans to reduce their branch footprints, Rockland Trust has continued to expand even as the pandemic has driven customers to digital channels. Overseeing the bank’s retail network is Margaret “Peg” McCarthy.
Bringing Commercial Banking to Greater Boston
For the past year, KeyBank’s Connecticut and Massachusetts market president, James Barger, has been preparing to expand the lender’s commercial banking services in the region, but without adding branches.
More Branch Closures Ahead
New England will lose dozens of bank branches in the next couple of years as several lenders shutter locations inside supermarkets, as persistently small margin spreads make these locations unprofitable.
TD Bank Plans Mass. Branch Closings
TD Bank plans to close six of its branches in Massachusetts, the latest in a string of several lenders adjusting their physical footprints in the state.
Webster Bank Aims for Big Savings with Branch Closures
Webster Bank could see $18 million in cost savings from its plans to close branches and take other steps to reduce expenses.
2021 Could See More of the Same for Lenders
From the pandemic’s effects on business customers and digital acceleration to conversations about racial inequalities in the industry, the year 2020 saw banking and lending confronting possibly long-lasting changes to the industry.
Branch Closures: Opportunity or Invitation for Folly?
Massachusetts’ banks face a potentially confusing set of decisions in the coming months as Berkshire Bank and Webster Bank dramatically curtail their retail footprints across New England.
Changes in Store for Branches as Some Banks Pull Back
With the pandemic driving many customers away from branches and accelerating the adoption of online and mobile technology, banks face the prospect of long-lasting changes to how they interact with customers.
Small Lenders Compete via Videoconference
A new video banking tool has helped StonehamBank keep in touch with customers during the pandemic. But the new software could help it earn greater wallet-share among its customers.
