InterBank President and CEO C.K. Lee runs one of the highest-performing banks in the country. The $4.7 billion, Oklahoma City-based bank has produced a pretax return on average assets of 3.30% or higher in each of the last five quarters and an S-Corp. adjusted ROAA of 2.60% or higher during each of those periods. The latter is more than 2x the ROAA generated by the community bank aggregate during that time frame. In the latest edition of Tales from Top Performers, a series featuring conversations with executives at high-performing banks, Lee discusses the bank's philosophy and how it positioned the institution to thrive through the changing interest rate environment, generate strong performance and recruit top talent. The executive also discussed his prior experience as a regulator and investment banker, and shared his outlook for credit quality and the M&A landscape.

Bank advisers and market participants at S&P Global Market Intelligence’s annual community bankers conference said bank M&A and IPO activity is in a holding pattern and will pick up once there is greater clarity over the macroeconomic and interest rate environment. They also suggested that banks should avoid trying to position their balance sheets for particular rate moves and instead prepare for a variety of scenarios. The episode highlights balance sheet strategies, the current regulatory environment and the outlook for bank deal activity from experts at Piper Sandler, Darling Consulting, Alston & Bird, Stephens, KSK Investors and Hovde Group.

The emergence of tariffs led to a broad selloff of US banks amid fears of slower economic growth or even a possible recession. Banks’ first-quarter earnings season showed strong performance before the onset of tariffs, but ultimately might have left investors with more questions than answers.
In the episode, senior reporter Harry Terris shared the key takeaways from large banks’ first-quarter results and highlighted commentary from JPMorgan, Bank of America, Capital One, First Citizens and others. The results show a noticeable divide between "hard" data, such as consumer spending strength, and "soft" data, like stock market volatility and economic forecasts. Despite the uncertainties, major banks have largely maintained their financial guidance. However, they have adjusted loan growth expectations downward due to a more cautious approach from clients, reflecting a "wait and see" attitude amid the current economic climate.
Bank news lead Lauren Seay further discussed how tariffs are expected to negatively impact M&A activity, but also notes that the trade policies have not completely stymied bank deals, with large transactions like Columbia Bank’s plans to purchase Pacific Premier surfacing since tariffs were announced.