Banks whittle down Indy-area branches
Since January 2013, banks have closed 35 branches in Marion County and surrounding counties but have opened only six new ones.
Chris O'Malley
Articles
Employee defection sparks battle between brokerages
Hylant Group says a former worker in its Carmel offices broke a non-compete agreement and poached clients for his new insurance-brokerage gig in Indianapolis.
Deca Financial to wind down after trustee opts for liquidation
The Fishers debt collection agency had been forced into bankruptcy by creditors. On Monday, a judge approved a request to terminate the once-promising firm.
Feds sue Indianapolis man over fictional credit union
An arrest warrant has been issued for Tim Coughlin, who has been accused of running a Ponzi scheme that collected $12.8 million from investors. In 2008, he proposed creating a 20-story balloon ride at White River State Park.
Option grant lifts compensation for Angie’s List’s Oesterle
Stock options accounted for the biggest chunk of the CEO’s compensation. Their value will depend on the company’s future stock performance.
Body shops sue insurers, allege push to drive down prices
In a federal lawsuit, 14 Indiana auto-body shops accuse State Farm and competitors of extracting “unreasonable and onerous” concessions on vehicle repair costs.
Bloomington brewer taps Indy ad firm, French designer to recast beer labels
Upland recently hired Indianapolis ad agency Young & Laramore to help streamline and unify its varied packaging themes.
Hip-hop still on top, but Emmis crowds next spots
Three Emmis Communications Corp. stations in February were near the top in local radio ratings, behind only Radio One’s No. 1 rated WHHH-FM 96.3, in the broad category of listeners age 6 and up.
Stations take news wars into wee hours
WTHR-TV Channel 13 recently stole a page from WXIN-TV Channel 59’s winning playbook by adding a 4 a.m. newscast. WXIN pioneered the ultra-early trend locally in 2009. But with a second station now on at 4 a.m., who is watching television at that hour?
Emmis cranks up volume on fourth quarter revenue
Rumors of radio’s demise appear to be greatly exaggerated, at least for Indianapolis-based Emmis Communications Corp. Revenue for its radio and publishing arms continue to improve.
Channel 6 to air children’s hospital telethon with twist
Don’t expect song-and-dance routines or sob stories. And whether a certain former local celebrity will make an appearance is top-secret.
Banks see resurgence of home equity loans
Although mortgage-refinancing applications are down, the product reviled and thought extinct after the 2008 housing crash that decimated property values may save the day for lenders: the home equity loan/line of credit.
CNO Financial casts out former Conseco demons
It was an exorcism of CNO’s legacy Conseco business recently that’s really put the proverbial color back in the faces of management and investors.
Angie’s List to take big chunk of Landmark Center
The move into nearly 100,000 square feet of office space is intended to consolidate Angie’s off-campus workers downtown. It’s a boon to struggling Landmark Center, which has been hemorrhaging tenants.
‘Local’ firm played role in alleged pump-and-dump scheme
An investor-relations firm founded by an Indianapolis native allegedly helped insiders of a biotech firm to hype its stock on financial sites, then sell their own shares on the bump.
Olympics, storms boost local newscast ratings
The Indianapolis station enjoying the biggest bump was WTHR-TV Channel 13, whose network affiliate NBC and some of its own staff covered the games in Sochi.
Storms, sports kept viewers glued to local news in February
WTHR grows lead, but rivals show decent ratings gains
Suburban news pubs headed for more mailboxes
Following the recent launch of magazine-style community newsletters in four more northern Indy communities, TownePost plans to add Greenwood to its stable.
WTHR last of local affiliates to roll out robotic cameras
Several production staffers at WTHR-TV Channel 13 could wind up looking for work in the months ahead as the NBC affiliate becomes the last of the local stations to extensively automate studio functions.
Toyota dealers trying to stop Ed Martin’s relocation
Butler Auto Group has been selling Toyotas in Indianapolis since 1966. Ed Martin Auto Group has been selling Toyotas in Anderson since the 1980s. So when Toyota Motor Sales USA recently allowed Martin to move its dealership 20 miles west, to Noblesville, Rob Butler started seeing red.