Economic reports this past week were on the light side and of second-tier influence. Recent improved sentiment and inflation readings have been, at least in part, due to the decline in energy prices in June. But the past two weeks have proven that the Mideast situation is clearly unresolved and fluid, thereby leaving its impact on prices potentially still intact. Indeed, energy and commodity prices have undergone a dramatic rebound higher in the past week. The upcoming FOMC meeting announcement will occur on Wednesday afternoon at 2 p.m. While the lower-than-expected CPI report this month has likely provided breathing room for the Fed to remain on hold, the turn in Mideast events will surely play a role in deliberations among Fed committee members. As of this writing Thursday afternoon, the market prices a 37% chance of a 25-bps hike at the meeting....

Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion with Frank Farone, Managing Director at Darling Consulting Group, on how community financial institutions can evaluate the true cost of funds, challenge common misconceptions about wholesale funding, and develop a more effective approach to liquidity, profitability, and balance sheet management...

After years of anticipating a return to lower interest rates, many financial institutions have come to recognize that rates may remain elevated for longer than originally expected. While a higher-for-longer environment presents challenges—including deposit competition, funding pressures, slower loan demand, and margin compression—it also creates opportunities for well-positioned institutions to enhance earnings, strengthen liquidity, and support strategic growth...