Banking in the Aftermath

These times call for creative measures to ensure adequate funding and preparedness for our country’s needs.

Down-to-earth talk with community bankers about directors pay and benefits accompanied by the results of the 2001 Bank Director Compensation Survey.

Earnings projections can seem like a moving target—no matter how carefully you aim, it’s easy to miss the mark. We offer directors practical advice about playing the numbers game and point out some red flags to avoid getting caught by imprudent decisions.

The synergies are there—but converging the two cultures of banking and insurance is a formidable challenge. Institutions lacking a well-defined and realistic strategic plan—and knowing little about the business itself—risk destroying rather than creating value with such deals. With nine agency acquisitions under its belt, FNB Corp. shows how its done.

Financial-related businesses performed admirably after our nation’s most serious attack. But there’s no such thing as being too prepared.

Can a $1 billion bank hold its own against the big guys? The directors of California Community Bancshares are putting the supercommunity bank model to the test. The premise: Acquire aggressively, maintain local identities, and capitalize on the strength of a much larger institution. So far, it appears to be working.