First BanCorp., parent of FirstBank Puerto Rico, announced the signing of a stock purchase agreement for FirstBank to acquire Spanish bank Banco Santander Puerto Rico in an all-cash transaction worth $1.1 billion. The transaction is subject to receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals and is expected to close in mid-2020. When broken down, the 100% […]
Oriental CEO José Rafael Fernández believes Puerto Rico has an economy that is “transitioning, from not only the aftermath of [Hurricane] María reconstruction, but also for the last 12, 13 years of economic contraction.” During a call with analysts to discuss its third quarter results, Fernández said while federal funds are trickling in, “there is […]
Banco Popular and Visa announced the debut in Puerto Rico of contactless payment technology for their Visa credit card portfolio. As of today, all Popular Visa credit cards, newly issued or replaced, will feature this new proximity payment technology, which meets all the same security standards as traditional chip cards, including that each transaction is […]
MCS is launching its “Tu Ruta al Bienestar” program with an investment of more than $1 million, expanding its role in community locations throughout the island to offer activities and experiences aimed at promoting health and wellness for the elderly. The initiative arises through an alliance with community-based organizations in Puerto Rico, including the YMCA, […]
Puerto Rico’s Office of Financial Institutions Commissioner George Joyner said although the deal is pending regulatory approvals, he sees “no major obstacle” for Oriental’s acquisition of Scotiabank de Puerto Rico’s assets to happen. In an interview on the “En Una Hora” program that airs on 11Q 1140 AM, in which News is my Business participates, […]
OFG Bancorp announced it has filed applications at four regulatory agencies for consent of its proposed acquisition of Scotiabank de Puerto Rico, according to public notices published Tuesday. The petitions to the Federal Reserve, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., the Puerto Rico Office of the Commissioner of Financial Institutions and the U.S. Virgin Islands Banking […]
National Public Finance Guarantee Corporation and MBIA Insurance Corporation filed suit in the San Juan Superior Court against eight Wall Street banks to hold them accountable for “inequitable conduct in Puerto Rico’s municipal bond market that contributed to Puerto Rico’s economic collapse.” Plaintiffs are bond insurers that have been presented with more than $1 billion […]
OFG Bancorp, parent company of Oriental Bank, announced the Virgin Islands Banking Board approved the first regulatory step related to the acquisition of Scotiabank’s U.S. Virgin Island operations. The permit authorizes Oriental to organize a bank in the territory. To assume Scotiabank’s operations and start serving customers in the USVI, Oriental will also need a license and approval from […]
Popular Inc., parent company of Banco Popular de Puerto Rico, reported net income of $171.1 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2019, compared to net income of $167.9 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2019. But when compared quarter-to-quarter, the financial institution revealed a 39% drop this quarter when compared to the same […]
First BanCorp. reported net income of $41.3 million, or $0.19 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2019, compared to $43.3 million, or $0.20 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2019, and $31.0 million, or $0.14 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2018. First BanCorp CEO Aurelio Alemán described the […]
Upon revealing a 3.3% net revenue increase to $99.2 million from $96 million during the second quarter, Oriental CEO José Rafael Fernández said the events of the past week have not had an economic impact so far but could create them in the long-run. In a call with analysts to discuss the results, Fernández said […]
The New York Fed announced it is launching its “Investment Connection” program to boost investments in regional community development financing. The program’s first phase will begin in Fall 2019 in Puerto Rico, where the New York Fed is working to rebuild the island’s economic resiliency in the aftermath of Hurricane María. The program will help […]
A Key Biscayne, Florida, resident and the former CEO of a now-bankrupt multinational pharmaceutical company was sentenced to 30 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release yesterday for his role in a $100 million scheme to defraud Westernbank of Puerto Rico. The losses triggered a series of events leading to Westernbank’s insolvency […]
OFG Bancorp’s subsidiary Oriental Bank will acquire Scotiabank’s Puerto Rico operation for $550 million and its U.S. Virgin Island branch operation for $10 million. Scotiabank’s Puerto Rico and USVI operations will be merged into Oriental Bank and its related businesses. The acquisition is subject to customary regulatory approvals, which will likely take about six months […]
In keeping with its commitment to small businesses, Oriental granted a loan of some $2.8 million to Evinmotors, for the purchase of a commercial property that will become its new headquarters. The loan was granted under the Small Business Administration’s 504 program, jointly with the Marketing Small Business Finance Corp. Evinmotors is a company dedicated […]
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