BloggingStocks http://www.bloggingstocks.com BloggingStocks http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/media/feedlogo.gif BloggingStocks http://www.bloggingstocks.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Senate May Vote This Week on $30 Billion Community Bank Capital Bill]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/07/27/senate-may-vote-this-week-on-30-billion-community-bank-capital/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/07/27/senate-may-vote-this-week-on-30-billion-community-bank-capital/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/07/27/senate-may-vote-this-week-on-30-billion-community-bank-capital/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The only question is -- how soon can the Congress get this deal done?

The potential 'deal' being $30 billion in new capital for community banks, who would then use it as a base to increase lending to small-sized/medium-sized businesses by up to $300 billion -- credit that's urgently needed and may prove to be a pivotal factor concerning the U.S. economic expansion's sustainability.

"If we can help the big banks, then we should certainly be able to help small-business lending," President Barack Obama said June 30, Bloomberg News reported. The Senate may consider the bill as early as this week; the program, called the Small Business Lending Fund, passed the U.S. House last month

Continue reading Senate May Vote This Week on $30 Billion Community Bank Capital Bill

Senate May Vote This Week on $30 Billion Community Bank Capital Bill originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 27 Jul 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bankscommunity banksCongresscreditinthenewsloansObama administrationsmall businessesTue, 27 Jul 2010 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Obama Administration Proposes $30 Billion to Community Banks]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/02/02/obama-administration-proposes-30-billion-to-community-banks/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/02/02/obama-administration-proposes-30-billion-to-community-banks/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/02/02/obama-administration-proposes-30-billion-to-community-banks/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The Obama administration has a full-press program underway to reduce unemployment. One of their proposals is to provide $30 billion to community banks to spur lending to small businesses. The money would be transferred from TARP.

The big banks have been reluctant to lend to small businesses, instead preferring to use their money for in-house trading. This proposal from the Obama administration is viewed as an end-run around big banks.

Continue reading Obama Administration Proposes $30 Billion to Community Banks

Obama Administration Proposes $30 Billion to Community Banks originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 02 Feb 2010 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>community banksinthenewsObamaTARPTue, 02 Feb 2010 12:40:00 EST<![CDATA[First Niagara: A Low-Profile Gem]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/01/29/first-niagara-a-low-profile-gem/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/01/29/first-niagara-a-low-profile-gem/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/01/29/first-niagara-a-low-profile-gem/#commentsFiled under:

Community banking may become an enduring trend in the current decade, and that's a major reason I'm reiterating my buy rating for First Niagara Financial Group (FNFG), first recommended on April 27, 2009, at a price of $13.55.

First Niagara's stock has continued to meander since the spring buy call, but the value proposition remains the same: a community bank with few non-performing mortgages. Its residential loan portfolio, all in-house, is performing well.

Continue reading First Niagara: A Low-Profile Gem

First Niagara: A Low-Profile Gem originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 29 Jan 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bankingbankscommunity banksFirst Niagara Financial Corp.FNFGFri, 29 Jan 2010 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Switch to Community Banks: A Trend That Must Continue]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/01/26/the-switch-to-community-banks-a-trend-that-must-continue/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/01/26/the-switch-to-community-banks-a-trend-that-must-continue/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/01/26/the-switch-to-community-banks-a-trend-that-must-continue/#commentsFiled under:

Huffington Post Founder Arianna Huffington has championed transferring your money to community banks from the large, money-center banks as a way to punish the big banks for their reprehensible conduct of paying absurdly large bonuses, even while being dependent on government assistance. I want to encourage all investors to follow Huffington's advise.

It may not be possible to move money to a small, local bank -- some regions of the U.S. may not have a small bank -- and they may not offer all of the 'bells and whistles' of a large bank, but where possible, taking this small step will support the health of these community banks, and will likely strengthen your local community. Chances are, your local, community bank is going to deploy that capital more productively than one of the big guns would.

Continue reading The Switch to Community Banks: A Trend That Must Continue

The Switch to Community Banks: A Trend That Must Continue originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 26 Jan 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Arianna Huffingtonbankscommunity banksCommunityBanksinthenewsTue, 26 Jan 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bank Failures Begin Again]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/01/16/bank-failures-begin-again/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/01/16/bank-failures-begin-again/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/01/16/bank-failures-begin-again/#commentsFiled under: ,

After seeing the number of bank failures tick up to 140 last year, there's some slight comfort in seeing the annual total only reach four. The feeling of relief disappears, of course, when you realize that we're only two weeks into 2010. The effects of the late 2008 financial crisis are still with us, as three small banks learned this week -- in Illinois, Minnesota and Utah. As expected, the 2009 trend continues. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation's takeover of the banks follows the closure of the much larger Horizon Bank in Bellingham, Wash., the week before.

Continue reading Bank Failures Begin Again

Bank Failures Begin Again originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 16 Jan 2010 09:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>banking sectorBarnes Bankingcommunity banksFDICFederal Deposit Insurance CorporationHorizon Bankillinoisinthenewsminnesotareal estate marketUtahSat, 16 Jan 2010 09:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Amid financial crisis, community banks demonstrate their worth ]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/10/15/amid-financial-crisis-community-banks-demonstrate-their-worth/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/10/15/amid-financial-crisis-community-banks-demonstrate-their-worth/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/10/15/amid-financial-crisis-community-banks-demonstrate-their-worth/#commentsFiled under: ,

Economists and analysts generally agree that the bank sector is still fertile ground for consolidations, mergers, and acquisitions. (Fertile for mergers and acquisitions, that is, provided Bank A can easily discern what's on Bank B's balance sheet.)

Further, most experienced investors know the benefits of the above - increased efficiency being among the primary advantages - but during the financial crisis the nation also witnessed the downside: the sudden loss of banking service, if that national or multinational bank or lender ceased to operate.

Continue reading Amid financial crisis, community banks demonstrate their worth

Amid financial crisis, community banks demonstrate their worth originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bank sectorcommunity banksThu, 15 Oct 2009 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[People's Bank remains true to its name]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/02/14/people-s-bank-remains-true-to-its-name/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/02/14/people-s-bank-remains-true-to-its-name/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/02/14/people-s-bank-remains-true-to-its-name/#commentsFiled under:

A bank stock? In this market? Sure, if it's a community-oriented bank, such as People's Bank.

People's United Financial, Inc. (Nasdaq: PBCT) is a community-based bank that operates more than 300 branches in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont and New Hampshire.

In addition to traditional banking activities, People's provides specialized services tailored to specific markets, including personal, institutional, and employee benefits as well as cash management, and municipal banking and finance.

Analysts see a 10-12% increase in loan growth in 2007, and 9-11% revenue growth overall: a similar performance is expected in 2008. Meanwhile, most importantly, asset quality remains good -- no small consideration in today's beleaguered mortgage market.

Analysts also like the fact that People's will likely use new capital to expand its operations outside its Connecticut base. The Reuters FY 2008/FY 2009 EPS consensus estimates for PBCT are $0.82 to $1.02.

The First Call mean rating for PBCT is: Buy [9 firms]. Mean 2008 target: $20 [high: $23, low: $17].

Stock Analysis: People's Bank is a moderate-risk stock not suitable for low-risk investors. Investors with an investment horizon longer than 2 years should be rewarded from PBCT's shares. Sell/Stop Loss if you were to purchase shares in this company: $8.

Disclosure: Lazzaro has no positions in stocks. In addition to private real estate holdings, he owns corporate and municipal bonds, and cash certificates of deposit.

People's Bank remains true to its name originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 14 Feb 2008 17:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>banking sectorbankscommunity banksPBCTPeople's BankThu, 14 Feb 2008 17:41:00 EST<![CDATA[Hudson City is the bank that enables investors to sleep well at night]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/01/10/hudson-city-is-the-bank-that-enables-investors-to-sleep-well-at/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/01/10/hudson-city-is-the-bank-that-enables-investors-to-sleep-well-at/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/01/10/hudson-city-is-the-bank-that-enables-investors-to-sleep-well-at/#commentsFiled under:

The banking and financial sectors have certainly taken their lumps amid the housing sector's correction, but that doesn't mean there aren't bank stock opportunities out there, and one bank worth a review is Hudson City Bancorp.

Hudson City Bancorp (Nasdaq: HCBK) is a community bank with about 110 branches in the Metropolitan New York area.

Analysts like HCBK's loan growth, ramping fee income, and strong cost control history. Best of all, analysts say Hudson should not be adversely affected by the secondary mortgage market and its incorrect pricing of loans because Hudson holds most of the loans it originates.

Further, margin spreads should increase in 2008, and charge-offs should be minimal. The Reuters FY 2007/FY 2008 EPS consensus estimates for HCBK are $0.59 to $0.82.

The risks? An inversion of the yield curve would hurt HCBK's results; competition is modest.

The First Call mean rating for HCBK is: Buy [13 firms]. Mean 2008 target: $15.50 [high: $18, low: $12].

Stock Analysis: Hudson City Bancorp is a moderate-risk stock not suitable for low-risk investors. Investors with an investment horizon longer than 2 years should be rewarded from HCBK's shares. Sell/Stop Loss if you were to purchase shares in this company: $8.

Disclosure: Lazzaro has no positions in stocks. In addition to private real estate holdings, he owns corporate and municipal bonds, and cash certificates of deposit.

Hudson City is the bank that enables investors to sleep well at night originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 10 Jan 2008 19:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>balance sheetbanking sectorbankscommunity banksHCBKhousingHudson City Bancorpinterest ratesmortgagesrecessionThu, 10 Jan 2008 19:09:00 EST