Banking Crisis Fallout, Financial Literacy Month, and Other Finance News Trends

A look at the finance industry news from PR Newswire in March and April that you might have missed.

By Sathvika Narayan | Published May 3, 2023

PR Newswire distributed more than 7,900 finance-related press releases in March and April 2023. Our team monitored the headlines and noticed a few recurring trends.

Some of the most popular headlines that crossed the wire were tied to the SVB and Signature Bank closures and the reactions from companies across the country, Financial Literacy Month celebrations, and housing/mortgage-related updates.

Many releases on women entrepreneurs also caught our eye as we celebrated Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day in March.

Below, we take a closer look at these trends as well as some of the most-viewed finance headlines in March and April.

Popular Finance Releases

These were some of the most-read finance releases of the two-month period:

• The repercussions of the SVB and Signature Bank collapses (which we’ll get into more below) were massive, and it was apparent to see in the release about Brex offering an emergency credit line to SVB customers.
• As the global economy adapts to digital currencies, the Digital Currency Monetary Authority (DCMA) announced its official launch of the Universal Monetary Unit (UMU), Unicoin, an international central bank digital currency (CBDC).
• Despite the overall crypto market contraction, the Pi Core Team continues to grow and announced the development of the Pi Network ecosystem and its long-term vision. 
• On the employment front, private employers added 145,000 jobs in March. The job market is beginning to find its balance as consumer demand ebbs and the cost of borrowing goes up.

Finance News Trends

Below, we dig into some of the recurring finance news trends from March and April 2023.

SVB and Signature Bank Fallout

SVB and Signature Bank’s failures delivered a massive shock to the finance industry. The crisis had significant implications for their clients and drew attention to the challenges of navigating complex regulatory environments — and the importance of compliance and risk management within the industry.

SVB's stock plummeted by 60% on March 7 after announcing that it was seeking more than $2 billion in funding to shore up liquidity issues, which triggered a bank run. It is considered the biggest bank failure in the world since 2008 and the third largest ever in the U.S.

As the fallout continues to unfold, it is important for industry observers and participants alike to pay close attention to the evolving landscape of banking and finance, and to stay informed about the latest developments and trends in the industry.

In the two-month period, PR Newswire distributed dozens of releases related to the fallout. Here are a few,

• VION Investments established a fast-track funding program and waived fees to assist those affected by the crisis.
• SVB Financial Group announced that its Board of Directors appointed a restructuring committee to explore strategic alternatives for the holding company and its SVB Capital and SVB Securities businesses, as well as its other assets and investments. 
• Brex moved $200M of its own corporate funds from big banks to Silicon Valley Bank to form a newly created, full-service FDIC-operated 'bridge bank.'
• WhiteHorse Finance shared how the SVB and Signature Bank closures impacted its portfolio.

The failures of both SVB and Signature Bank caused fears that panic would spread to the rest of the banking sector. In response, regulators set up a system to make sure depositors got their money, even for amounts much larger than the usual $250,000 FDIC limit.

Although that action is considered to have halted the widespread contagion of bank runs throughout the industry, it also sparked questions about which banks should be considered too big to fail and which depositors should be considered too important to go uninsured.

Financial Literacy Month

April is considered “Financial Literacy Month” throughout the United States, and it is the perfect time to focus on the importance of financial education and how it can help individuals take control of their finances. According to Standard & Poor's Global Financial Literacy Survey, a study of adults in 143 nations, the U.S. ranks 14th in financial literacy.

While Financial Literacy Month is celebrated in the United States, financial literacy is a global issue. Many countries around the world also observe Financial Literacy Month or have similar initiatives to promote financial education and literacy among their populations.

During Financial Literacy Month, financial institutions, non-profits, and human service agencies amplified their focus on the importance of financial literacy through events, programs, and counseling. The goal goes beyond helping consumers learn more about finances; it aims to empower them to improve their personal and household financial stability and success.

Here are some of the releases related to Financial Literacy Month that caught our eye:

• BeCentsablesmart.com made its award-winning TV series and multi-media financial literacy platform available to children ages 6-12.
• "When it comes to financial literacy, women are often forgotten," according to Certified Financial Planner™ Patricia Stallworth. "Yet we know the wealth gap is real."
• For Financial Literacy Month, GOBankingRates worked to empower people to make the most of their finances by better understanding how their money works.
• ING's grant to Rock The Street, Wall Street (RTSWS) aims to provide access and opportunity to young women entering the workforce.
• A BMO survey found that most Americans (59%) want financial literacy tools and resources within their digital banking apps.

In summary, Financial Literacy Month serves as a reminder that financial literacy is essential for achieving personal and economic success, and it encourages individuals to take an active role in improving their financial knowledge and skills.

Women Entrepreneurs

Women entrepreneurs are playing an increasingly important role in the U.S. economy. But despite their significant contributions to the economy, women entrepreneurs often face challenges in accessing funding and financing for their businesses.

The share of women-owned businesses has skyrocketed in recent years. According to American Express, 42% of all businesses in the U.S. are women-owned. Women entrepreneurs are also taking on leadership roles and becoming mentors for other aspiring women entrepreneurs. 

PR Newswire distributed more than 70 press releases mentioning "women entrepreneurs" in the last two months. Here are a few of the ones that stood out:

• During Women's History Month, SCORE celebrated women entrepreneurs and their indelible impact on the U.S. economy.
• Northern Illinois Community Initiatives (NICI) launched a new economic development program to help small business startups and businesses owned by women and minority entrepreneurs access capital and technical support.
• Visa's She's Next Grant Program returned to support women-owned small businesses in Canada through funding, customized coaching, and mentorship. 
• The Women Presidents Organization announced plans for its annual forum, taking place in May.
• BMO and 1871 announced a call for applications for its annual WMNfintech program, the largest non-profit fintech industry accelerator for women-founded and women-led startups in North America

The efforts of women are reshaping the business landscape and creating a more inclusive and diverse entrepreneurial ecosystem in the U.S. economy.

• Social Impact: Many women-owned businesses are focused on addressing societal challenges, such as environmental issues, social justice, and healthcare disparities, and are actively working towards creating positive change in their communities.
• Empowerment: Women empowerment through entrepreneurship is a powerful way to promote gender equality and create positive social and economic change.
• Economic Growth: Women-owned businesses are contributing significantly to the overall economic growth of the country.

Housing and Mortgage Updates

Homeownership is a common goal for many Americans. Owning a home can provide stability, build wealth through equity appreciation, and offer tax benefits. However, it also comes with responsibilities such as mortgage payments, property taxes, and maintenance costs.

The demand for rental housing has increased in recent years due to a variety of factors, including changing demographics, lifestyle preferences, and economic factors. For example, Millennials and Baby Boomers are increasingly choosing to rent rather than buy homes, and in some areas, the cost of homeownership has become less affordable, leading to higher demand for rental properties.

Both rising interest rates and lack of inventory, which are keeping home prices from falling, have sidelined many prospective buyers, especially those looking to purchase their first home. 

In the last two months, nearly 694 releases related to residential real estate crossed the wire. Here are a few of them:

• CrossCountry Mortgage (CCM) announced that it is helping make homeownership more accessible in traditionally underserved communities by offering down payment assistance to aspiring first-time homebuyers.
• About 40% of millennials say they would need to get a second or third job, and 28% of Gen Zers say they'd have to make a career change in order to afford a home right now, according to a survey from Zillow.
  
• Real estate investor Kiavi says market dynamics such as increasing demand for rental housing and urbanization point to an opportunity for investors.
  
• After three long years, Los Angeles County's COVID emergency ended on March 31. L.A. County's COVID-19 emergency tenant regulations have given low-income tenants protection in eviction court if they can't pay rent on time due to economic harms brought on by the pandemic.

Looking ahead: Recent rate declines seem to be luring at least some shoppers off the sidelines. And as home price growth slows and sales transactions increase, some experts remain cautiously optimistic that the housing market is in a recovery.

Takeaways

Over the past few months, we've seen companies across the country react to the banking crisis and offer ways to help customers during the fallout and feel secure in their banking choices. We also saw companies stressing the importance of financial literacy for individuals of all ages and backgrounds and celebrating women entrepreneurs and their powerful role in shaping the society and economy.

Our team will continue to monitor these trends and as well as many more in the coming months, and we look forward to seeing what crosses the wire over the next weeks and months. Stay tuned!

About the Author

Sathvika Narayan is a Distribution Admin Specialist at Cision and has been at the company since 2021. She coordinates with the onboarding team and manages the client database to ensure the smooth delivery of press releases. Outside of work, she can be found creating visual art, traveling, and cooking for her family and friends.