Core Insights - The Federal Reserve's decision to maintain interest rates has led to stable cash yields, encouraging savers to explore competitive options for their cash holdings [2][3] - Current yields across various cash products, including savings accounts, CDs, brokerage cash options, and U.S. Treasuries, range from approximately 3% to 5%, allowing for meaningful returns without stock market exposure [3][9] - A comprehensive chart has been created to compare the best-paying options across major cash categories, highlighting standout rates in high-yield savings accounts and CDs [4][5] Cash Yield Analysis - Cash options are delivering competitive yields, with the potential to earn significant interest on deposits, such as $200 in six months from a $10,000 deposit at a 4% account [7][9] - The earnings potential varies by account type, with specific examples showing earnings for different balances at various annual percentage yields (APYs) [8] - The best savings accounts, CDs, Treasuries, and some brokerage cash options provide strong returns with minimal risk, emphasizing the importance of selecting the right cash management strategy [9][10] Product Categories - The top cash options fall into three main categories: bank and credit union products, brokerage and robo-advisor products, and U.S. Treasury products, each with unique characteristics and yield structures [11][15] - Bank and credit union products include savings accounts, money market accounts, and CDs, while brokerage options consist of money market funds and cash management accounts [13][14] - U.S. Treasury products, such as T-bills, notes, and inflation-protected I bonds, offer fixed interest rates and can be purchased directly or through secondary markets [14][15]

In SBA, Becker said the bank maintained its position as a top 10 SBA 7(a) lender, with nearly $580 million in funded originations in 2025, despite industry challenges that included a government shutdown. He also noted leadership changes and additions in underwriting and portfolio management.On banking-as-a-service (BaaS), Becker said initiatives generated over $1.3 billion in new deposits during 2025—more than triple the prior year—and the bank processed more than $165 billion in payments volume, up over 22 ...

First Financial’s balance sheet growth in the quarter included a significant contribution from the Westfield acquisition. Anderson said total loan balances increased $1.7 billion during the period, including $1.6 billion acquired in the Westfield transaction . Excluding acquisition impact, organic loan growth was $131 million , or 4% annualized , driven by C&I and Summit.Net interest margin (NIM) was 3.98% , down slightly from the prior quarter. CFO Jamie Anderson said funding costs declined 15 basis points ...

Core Viewpoint - Bankwell Financial Group reported a strong fourth-quarter performance with net income of $9.1 million, driven by net interest margin expansion and a rebound in non-interest income, particularly from the SBA division [4][6][9]. Financial Performance - The company achieved a net interest margin of 3.40%, an increase of 6 basis points from the previous quarter, attributed to a reduction in deposit costs [3][6]. - GAAP net income for Q4 was $9.1 million, or $1.15 per share, which included a one-time tax adjustment of $1.5 million; adjusted operating income was $10.7 million, or $1.36 per share [4][6]. - Non-interest income rose to $3.4 million, a 35% increase from the prior quarter, largely due to $2.2 million in SBA gain-on-sale income [9][10]. Loan Growth and Portfolio Management - The company funded $240 million in loans during Q4, resulting in a 5% annual loan growth, with total funded originations for the year reaching $758 million [5][7]. - Floating-rate loans increased to 38% of the portfolio, up from 23% at the end of 2024, reflecting a strategic shift towards higher-yielding assets [7]. Deposit Repricing and Cost Management - Management indicated that $1.2 billion in time deposits are expected to reprice favorably over the next 12 months, potentially providing an annualized benefit of approximately $4 million [1][6]. - The total deposit cost at the end of 2025 was reported at 3.08%, following a 50 basis point reduction in offered time deposit rates [2][6]. Credit Quality and Capital Position - Non-performing assets decreased to 49 basis points of total assets, down from 56 basis points in the prior quarter, indicating improved credit quality [12]. - The allowance for credit losses was reported at 108 basis points of total loans, with coverage of non-performing loans increasing to 188% [13]. 2026 Outlook - Management provided guidance for 2026, projecting loan growth of 4% to 5%, net interest income between $111 million and $112 million, and non-interest income of approximately $11 million to $12 million [17]. - The company expects to maintain profitability growth alongside investments in personnel and technology, with a headcount increase of over 10% in 2025 [16].

ING Groep (NYSE:ING) Q4 2025 Earnings call January 29, 2026 05:00 AM ET Company ParticipantsReginald Watson - Head of Investor RelationsSteven van Rijswijk - CEOConference Call ParticipantsMark Schwartzenburg - AnalystNone - AnalystNone - AnalystSteven van RijswijkThank you very much for people on the call as well. I believe you're in listening only, Mark, and we have people here in the room as well from the media here in the Netherlands. I'll say a few words upfront, and then we'll just go into Q&A. So we ...

Looking ahead, Kalani said the company expects funding costs to begin declining in the first quarter of 2026 and projected 2026 net interest margin in the range of 3.90% to 4.00%. He added that if there were no rate cuts in 2026, margin would be expected to come in “a little higher.” Excluding purchase accounting impact, fourth-quarter margin was 3.53% versus 3.59% in the third quarter, primarily due to the deposit-rate lag.CFO Neil Kalani said fourth-quarter net interest margin was 4.00%, down from 4.11% i ...

Revolut has begun full banking operations in Mexico following the completion of its beta testing phase. The launch marks the introduction of Revolut Bank S.A Institución de Banca Múltiple, representing the fintech firm’s first bank outside European borders and expanding Revolut’s footprint to 40 countries. The company has received a direct banking licence from Mexican regulators, becoming the first independent digital bank to do so via this route. Revolut has allocated more than $100m in capital for it ...

Free Newsletter Get the hottest Fintech Switzerland News once a month in your Inbox Revolut has officially ended its Beta phase in Mexico, launching full banking operations through Revolut Bank S.A., Institución de Banca Múltiple.This is its first bank outside Europe and brings Revolut’s presence to 40 countries.The bank obtained a Mexican banking license independently and capitalised its operations with over US$100 million, more than double the regulatory minimum.This gives a Capital Adequacy Ratio of ...

Crockett noted that NIM in the third and second quarters included one-time items related to credit workouts and interest recoveries. The third quarter included a 6 basis point impact (about $640,000 ), and the second quarter included a 17 basis point impact (about $1.7 million ). Excluding those items, Crockett said the company delivered “steady NIM expansion” over the past year, though the pace slowed in the fourth quarter.Chief Financial Officer Steve Crockett said fourth-quarter diluted EPS was $0.90 , d ...

Core Viewpoint - SoFi is positioned as a more resilient investment compared to Robinhood, particularly in the face of potential economic downturns due to its diversified service offerings and customer base growth [1][8]. Company Performance - SoFi has expanded its customer base to 12.6 million, marking a 35% increase year-over-year [3]. - Revenue for SoFi rose by 38% to $950 million, with non-GAAP adjusted earnings increasing by 120% to $0.11 per share [4]. - Robinhood's revenue doubled to $1.2 billion, and diluted earnings per share surged by 259% to $0.61 [4]. Service Diversification - SoFi offers a broad range of financial products, including student loan refinancing, personal loans, credit card consolidation, and renters insurance, which may help it withstand economic slowdowns [9][11]. - In contrast, Robinhood's revenue is heavily reliant on trading activities, particularly options and crypto trading, which accounted for 78% of its transaction-based revenue in Q3 [11]. Market Conditions - The market has been on a bull run since 2022, and Robinhood has not yet faced a market downturn, which could pose risks when economic conditions change [12]. - Economic indicators suggest potential challenges ahead, including job layoffs reaching a four-year high in 2025, which may affect Robinhood's trading volume as customers may reduce riskier investments [12][13]. Investment Recommendation - Given the current economic landscape and service diversification, adding SoFi to an investment portfolio may be a more prudent choice compared to Robinhood [13].