Jackie Stewart

Arlington

Executive Editor at Bank Director

Executive Editor of Bank Director. Lover of cats. Reader of bad fiction. Mom of three. Opinions are my own.

Articles

Banks Grapple with Unintended Consequences of Deregulation

2 weeks ago | bankdirector.com | Jackie Stewart

Over the last few months, regulators have made changes that banks have long sought. For instance, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has been in limbo after its headquarters was closed temporarily and its workforce told to stop their work, though those issues are being litigated. The agency seems poised to be less active in enforcement actions.
Big Bank M&A Poised to Return

1 month ago | bankdirector.com | Jackie Stewart

Large banks could finally get off the sidelines and start pursuing deals again. But a few things would need to happen first, said Bill Burgess, co-head of the financial services investment banking group at Piper Sandler Companies, during Bank Director’s Bank C-Suite Summit on Monday. Heading into 2025, there were expectations that overall bank M&A would pick up. There was a widespread assumption that the Trump administration would approve transactions quicker.
Tariffs Threaten to Mute Optimism Around CRE Lending

1 month ago | bankdirector.com | Jackie Stewart

There is more optimism around commercial real estate lending … or at least there was. In recent years, banks have taken a more cautious approach to CRE as the office sector, in particular, struggled and overall credit quality worsened. But it seemed as if bankers were once again ready to embrace growth in this portfolio earlier this year. Seventy-two percent of respondents to Bank Director’s 2025 Risk Survey anticipated growing their CRE loans this year.
Magazine Exclusive: Finding Your Lane

1 month ago | bankdirector.com | Jackie Stewart

*The following feature appears in the second quarter 2025 issue of Bank Director magazine. It and other stories are available to magazine subscribers and members of Bank Director’s Bank Services Program. Learn more about subscribing here. Robert Talerman considers himself among the lucky who get to live in Cape Cod year around. The region, which makes up the hook-shaped peninsula in Massachusetts, is beautiful for its miles of coastline, beaches and waterways.
2nd Quarter 2025

1 month ago | bankdirector.com | Naomi Snyder |John Engen |Emily McCormick |Jackie Stewart

From how-to articles, director training videos, key interviews with industry leaders and more, Bank Services provides bank executives and directors with the tools to help grow their financial institutions. To sign up for exclusive access to this online bank board resource, please contact Bank Services at 615-777-8461 or [email protected]. Magazine Subscribers please enter your email and password below. BANK SERVICES members please login .
Finding Your Lane

2 months ago | bankdirector.com | Jackie Stewart

Bank M&A Bank M&A topics will include balance sheet considerations for both the acquiring and acquired financial institutions such as deposits, capital adequacy, credit quality and more. Information around regulatory preparations and concerns as well as credit risks will also be addressed. Explore
With DEI Under the Microscope, Some Banks Are Revising and Rebranding Their Programs

2 months ago | bankdirector.com | Jackie Stewart

The banking industry is grappling with how to respond to recent moves by the Trump administration to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Last year, companies began to sour on DEI initiatives, and that pullback has accelerated since President Donald Trump took office in January and issued a series of executive orders targeting diversity efforts. “I think the pendulum is shifting the other way,” says Scott Yonker, a professor of finance in the business school at Cornell University.
The Skills and Attributes of an Effective Director

2 months ago | bankdirector.com | Jackie Stewart

Building a diverse board starts with assembling a group of directors who collectively bring expertise from a range of different fields. For banks, this can mean having board members with backgrounds in areas such as finance and accounting, risk management, regulatory matters and technology. Finding personalities that work well together is also essential in creating an environment where asking questions is not only tolerated but encouraged.
Companies Brush Off Plans for Industrial Banks

Mar 7, 2025 | bankdirector.com | Jackie Stewart

The financial services sector is bracing for the potential of more companies being approved for industrial bank charters. In the United States, there is a strict separation of commerce and banking activities. Industrial loan companies, or ILCs, are one exception to this. This type of charter allows a commercial company to own a bank whose deposits are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Currently, there are three applications pending, all from car manufacturers, for an ILC charter.
Chaos Consumes CFPB, Causing Uncertainty

Feb 21, 2025 | bankdirector.com | Jackie Stewart

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is going through a tumultuous period, and that’s left banks wondering what to expect from the agency. Earlier this month, Russell Vought, the agency’s second acting director since President Donald Trump’s inauguration, shut down the CFPB’s offices and told employees to stop their work immediately. He also announced he would decline the agency’s latest round of funding from the Federal Reserve.