There’s never a dull year on the proxy circuit, and the upcoming season promises more push-and-pull between companies and their shareholders. A shifting external environment has fueled a steady rise in shareholder resolutions, while banks and other companies are getting more adept at using negotiation and no-action requests to keep proposals from reaching the ballot. Data compiled by Esgauge and The Conference Board shows that just 65% of the 918 shareholder proposals filed across all industries in 2024 came to a vote. For banks, 31% of 76 proposals were either omitted or withdrawn in 2024; the rest were voted on…

Improving efficiency is a constant quest for most bankers. Billions are spent each year on processes and technologies intended to get more from less and widen the gap between revenues and expenses. So, how is the banking industry doing? Broadly speaking, banks are more efficient than they were 10 years ago. Commercial banks in the third quarter of 2024 had an efficiency ratio (ER) of 56.3%, according to data supplied by S&P Global Market Intelligence; in the same quarter of 2014, the ER was 61.4%. In simple terms, it cost banks $56.30 to generate $100 of revenue in 2024, versus…