How JPMorganChase plans to jolt ‘on-chain’ finance

The bank’s Kinexys blockchain unit processes a fraction of the institution’s overall payment volume. It’s betting that an appetite for the technology’s promise of speedy processing and liquidity will make that larger.

New Pinnacle CEO aims to prove merger skeptics wrong

Bank investors are typically wary of mergers of equals. Kevin Blair, CEO of the newly combined Synovus and Pinnacle, maintains that this deal is different, but also acknowledges that it’s now time to prove it.

Wisconsin’s Bank First finalizes acquisition of in-state rival

Bank First in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, has completed its acquisition of Centre 1 Bancorp in Beloit; Citi plans to shed its remaining Russian operations; Heritage Financial in Olympia, Washington, has received regulatory approvals to acquire Olympic Bancorp; and more in this week’s banking news roundup.