Banking & Finance - ArkansasBusiness.com

Long-term U.S. mortgage rates fell this week, making it slightly more affordable to borrow for a home.

U.S. consumer borrowing jumped 8.8 percent in November, the most in more than two years, a sign of growing confidence in the economy.

Forbes magazine this week ranked Home BancShares Inc. of Conway No. 1 on its annual list of "America's Best Banks."

The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis announced Wednesday several changes to its board of directors that were effective Jan. 1.

An affiliate of Wilhoit Properties Inc. of Springfield, Missouri, bought the 172-unit apartment complex in North Little Rock with a deal backed with a 10-year loan of $6.6 million.

The cost of borrowing money to buy a home rose slightly this week, but remains historically low.

Capital Bancorp Inc. of Rockville, Maryland, recently announced that it will acquire Evergreen Bancshares Inc. of Tallahassee, Florida, and its subsidiary, First State Bank of Crossett.

Ebullient U.S. consumers shopped at the healthiest pace in more than a decade during the holiday season, a sign of burgeoning economic strength.

J.D. Lowery of Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas has been named state director for Arkansas on the board of directors of the Southern Economic Development Council of Atlanta.

Chip Blanchard, the president of First State Bank in Russellville, says that in local economies, community banks have “more skin in the game.”

The recent flood of women who have begun speaking out about behavior that ranges from inappropriate to criminal creates a lightning-rod topic for organizational leaders.

An affiliate of Spring Capital in Philadelphia bought the 260-unit Lakewood Hills Apartments at 2400 McCain Blvd in North Little Rock.

The countdown to folding Heartland Bank operations into Simmons bank is under the 60-day mark.

The would-be buyers of the smallest bank in Arkansas have withdrawn their application to acquire Community State Bank of Bradley.

Eagle Bank & Trust is ramping up its mortgage lending division while Bank of the Ozarks is shutting its down. What’s going on with home loans?

When IberiaBank Corp. agreed in December to pay $11.7 million to settle allegations by Arkansas whistleblowers that it filed false claims for mortgage loan guarantees, it became the first lender working in the state to join a lengthy roster of lenders that have settled similar allegations with the U.S. Department of Justice since 2011.

Little Rock businessman John Taylor Lewis is no stranger to debt collection lawsuits and bankruptcy court thanks to the collapse of his Ram Venture Holdings effort in 2005-06.

Hospitable land in west Little Rock, retail space in Jacksonville, a future tire center site in North Little Rock, furniture room in Conway and residential property in Bryant form this week’s quintet of million-dollar transactions.

Bank of the Ozarks of Little Rock reports record quarterly and annual profit.

U.S. stocks climbed in morning trading Tuesday, sending the Dow Jones industrial average past the 26,000-point mark for the first time.

Average 30-year Mortgage Rates Slip to 3.95 Percent

Americans Borrowed More Amid Solid Holiday Sales

Forbes Ranks Home BancShares No. 1 on 'Best Banks' List

Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis Announces Appointments

Chapel Ridge Purchase Tops $8.2 Million Mark (Real Deals)

30-year Mortgage Rates Rise to 3.99 Percent

Maryland Holding Company to Acquire First State Bank

Holiday Gift for Retailers; Sales Up A Solid 0.4 Percent

J.D. Lowery Takes Director Spot on Southern Economic Board (Movers & Shakers)

Chip Blanchard on Community Banks Staying Centered at Home

Time to Talk About Harassment (Barry Goldberg On Leadership)

Lakewood Hills Hosts $12.7M Transaction (Real Deals)

Simmons Continues Heartland Deconstruction

Suitors Revising Bid For State’s Tiniest Bank

End of Bank of the Ozarks Mortgages May Not Signal Trend

Federal Crackdown on False Loan Claims Ensnares IberiaBank

Lawsuits, Foreclosures Dog Investor John Lewis as Debts Pile Up

Promenade Properties Swap Hands in $3.4 Million Deal

Bank of the Ozarks Reports Record Profit for Quarter, 2017

Dow Jones Industrial Average Crosses 26K Points