Innovate or Die: Lenders Must Partner with Tech Providers…or Face Disruption

Blockchain and AI may seem like mere buzzwords, but these technologies are already being implemented. For lenders who want to avoid disruption, now is the time to form relationships with innovators.... read more

July/August 2018

The Age of Omnichannel: Utilizing Technology to Meet Customers Where They Are

In a Monitor Q&A, executives from four software companies — Farooq Ghauri of NetSol Technologies, Mukul Mittal from Cloud Lending Solutions, Madhu Natarajan from Odessa Technologies and Jeff Van Slyke from LeaseTeam — discuss blockchain, AI, smart contracts, machine learning and other technology strategies for equipment finance companies.... read more

July/August 2018

Bankable Assets: Bank-Owned Equipment Finance Companies Contend with Shifting 2018

As bank-owned equipment finance companies continue to dominate the industry, they must deal with the changing times. Executives from PNC, CIT, Key and Regions offer their views on 2017 and 2018 performance, tax reform, alternative financing, technology and credit quality in the current marketplace.... read more

July/August 2018

Leasing as a Bank Product: Enhancing Profits and Customer Relationships

Banks have been jumping into the equipment finance business and now have the largest share of the market. But many banks have yet to take this vital step. With newcomers in mind, Bill Bosco covers the basics of incorporating a lease product business unit into a larger bank organization.... read more

July/August 2018

Is the Service Contract the new Operating Lease?

With ASC 842 requiring all leases to be placed on balance sheet, will more lessees seek to structure equipment financing arrangements as service contracts, and is that really possible?... read more

Jul/Aug 2018

Stipulate — and Lose? The Danger of Relying on Casualty Values

A recent Bankruptcy Court oral decision has cast doubt on using casualty values in a default context. Stephen Whelan provides background on this turn of events and offers an improved solution for lessors to calculate damages and stipulated loss values.... read more

Monitor 100 2018

Digital Transformation: Is the Equipment Finance Industry Falling Behind?

John Rizzi discusses the results of The Alta Group’s digital benchmark study, revealing the drivers behind and barriers to digitalization. Overall, the industry is lagging behind other financial service sectors in the adoption of digital capabilities.... read more

Monitor 100 2018

How Will Leasing Structures Change as a Result of ASC 842?

With ASC 842 requiring all leases to be placed on balance sheet, will lease structures change to minimize the effect of the balance sheet capitalization?... read more

Monitor 100 2018

Breaking Through: F.N.B.’s Expansion Pays Off with Monitor 100 Ranking

F.N.B. Equipment Finance has worked hard to create a bigger and better equipment finance group. The effort is paying dividends, including a spot in the Monitor 100. As his group enters the rankings for the first time, President and CEO Gary Cook is well aware that future proofing is the key to making sure the company returns next year.... read more

Monitor 100 2018

Evolutions Per Minute: Mollica Leads CIT Equipment Finance Forward

With a depth of experience in the organization rivaling any of his contemporaries, Vince Mollica was the natural fit to become managing director of CIT’s Equipment Finance business. As he takes the lead for one of the biggest players in the industry, Mollica is out to put people first and continue to evolve.... read more

Monitor 100 2018

Anticipating the Inevitable: When Will the Economic Expansion End?

Monitor has reported on six U.S. recessions during its 44 years in print. On the wings of the second-longest economic expansion in U.S. history, Dexter Van Dango asks the question lingering in the back of our minds: When will the next recession hit?... read more

Monitor 100 2018

A Family Affair: Skalicky on Building a Bank as a Community

Kelly Skalicky grew up with Stearns Bank. Now she is the president of the company. With a varied background as her foundation, she is uniquely qualified to continue the success her parents built at Stearns and position it for the future, all while maintaining a focus on small business customers.... read more

Monitor 100 2018

ELFA Women’s Leadership Forum: Accelerating Empowerment in Equipment Finance

Designed to empower women to take an active role in the ELFA and their workplaces, the inaugural Women’s Leadership Forum provided leadership development sessions on effective networking, communication and persuasion and opportunities to build relationships with other women in the industry.... read more

Monitor 100 2018

Equipment-Backed ABS: Continued Strength Contributes to Increase in Independent M&A Activity

Thanks to strong performance, equipment-backed ABS has been an investor favorite for the last few years, but new competition may be on the horizon. Sergey Moiseenko and Chuck Weilamann from rating agency DBRS provide an overview and outlook for the sector.... read more

Monitor 100 2018

What is the State of California Up To? Proposed Amendments Harmful to Business

One of the purposes of the California Financial Law is to ensure an adequate supply of credit to borrowers in the state, but Andrew Alper argues the law — and proposed amendments — are harmful to business. He dissects newly-introduced legislation, which could significantly affect lenders and brokers.... read more

May/June 2018