Commercial banking

While the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau seeks to cap overdraft fees, banks and credit unions are fighting the effort. Nuances that don't fit either side's narrative can get lost in the rhetoric.

This year, American Banker reporters dove deep into topics such as gambling addiction, Citigroup's rebuild, the Small Business Administration, fraud and monetary policy for its feature articles. Check out the most consequential articles of the year.

The Georgia-based bank plans to hire 85 relationship managers over the next three years to support growth in commercial and middle-market lending and private wealth. "The biggest risk is not being able to hire the bankers," said CEO Kevin Blair.

The Long Island bank is the latest financial institution to use new equity to restructure its balance sheet and unload low-yielding assets. Its stock price tumbled after the shares were priced at a considerable discount.

The Dallas-based bank has a growing list of legal and regulatory issues — some of them connected to its role in a U.S. government benefits program, and others not.

Lisa McGeough will be heading the global bank's U.S. operations. It's just the latest change at HSBC since Georges Elhedery took the reins in September.

The Toronto-based bank set aside CA$1.5 billion in its fiscal fourth quarter to cover potentially bad loans. Executives say higher-than-normal impaired losses could persist next year.

The building at 420 Montgomery St. could be put on the market as soon as this month, the Wall Street Journal reported.

The top five banks in this list closed a net total of 175 branches in the third quarter.

Andy Sieg, head of Citi's wealth business, says retention bonuses are part of his growth strategy.