Old National Bancorp Completes Partnership with Axletree to Enhance SWIFT Architecture
Old National Bancorp and Axletree Solutions announced the completion of a partnership to, through the implementation of Symmetree by Axletree, host Old National's updated SWIFT architecture. The enhancements provide a new level of highly-secure transaction messaging to ensure end-to-end control and complete transparency of banking transactions. Symmetree by Axletree is a centralized integration layer that integrates Old National's existing systems and global messaging networks. The partnership has produced risk reduction, increased business continuity, and speed of execution. A unified interface provides visibility and control over all global messaging workflows; built-in logic to identify, flag, and correct non-compliant messages before transmission; Swift optimization; and ISO 20022 enablement, among other updates. The improved highly-secure architecture meets the ISO 20022 mandate, and establishes a scalable foundation for further international growth.
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- Inflation Impact: January's Producer Price Index (PPI) rose 0.5% month-over-month, surpassing the expected 0.3%, with the core component increasing by 0.8%, indicating limited room for the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates and heightening concerns over potential economic slowdown.
- Rising Credit Risk: A Bank of America strategist highlighted increasing concerns over problem loans that could pressure lenders, prompting investors to reassess credit risk, particularly in private credit and leveraged loan markets, negatively impacting valuations of banks sensitive to economic cycles.
- Regional Bank Declines: The market's reaction led to significant declines in regional banks, with UMB Financial (NASDAQ:UMBF) down 7%, Texas Capital Bank (NASDAQ:TCBI) down 6.8%, Simmons First National (NASDAQ:SFNC) down 6.6%, Pinnacle Financial Partners (NASDAQ:PNFP) down 7.5%, and Old National Bank (NASDAQ:ONB) down 6.7%, reflecting waning investor confidence in the sector.
- Overreaction Opportunity: While the market's response to the news has been severe, the substantial price drops may present good buying opportunities for high-quality stocks, especially amid increasing economic uncertainty, necessitating careful evaluation of potential investment prospects.
- Repurchase Program Expansion: Old National Bancorp has announced a doubling of its share repurchase program to $400 million, effective until February 28, 2027, reflecting the company's confidence in future stock performance.
- Replacement of Previous Plan: The new repurchase program replaces the prior $200 million plan set to expire on February 28, 2026, indicating a proactive adjustment in capital management aimed at enhancing shareholder value.
- Flexible Buyback Methods: The new program allows for buybacks through various methods including open market transactions, privately negotiated deals, or accelerated share repurchase, enhancing the company's flexibility and responsiveness to market fluctuations.
- Future Growth Outlook: Old National Bancorp anticipates loan growth of 4% to 6% in 2026 while strengthening its capital position, demonstrating strategic decisions focused on business expansion and financial health improvement.
- Partnership Completion: Old National Bancorp has finalized its partnership with Axletree Solutions to implement the Symmetree platform, enhancing the security and transparency of its SWIFT architecture, thereby improving transaction control and efficiency.
- Efficiency Gains: The new system reduces friction in international payment processing, enables faster onboarding for clients, and significantly increases transaction volumes, which is expected to positively impact the company's revenue potential.
- Compliance and Scalability: The upgraded architecture meets ISO 20022 standards, establishing a scalable foundation for future international growth, thereby strengthening Old National's competitive position in the international payments sector.
- Real-Time Payment Tracking: Through Axletree, Old National can now track international payments in real time, leveraging SWIFT APIs to provide a secure end-to-end environment, significantly enhancing customer service quality and satisfaction.
- New Chief Revenue Officer: Old National Bancorp has appointed Joe Chasteen as Chief Revenue Enablement Officer, a role designed to drive organic growth and revenue generation, marking an innovative step in the company's strategic leadership.
- Extensive Industry Experience: Chasteen brings over 27 years of business banking and enterprise leadership experience, having held senior roles at several large financial institutions, showcasing his exceptional capabilities in sales strategy and client integration.
- Sales Process Optimization: The new Chief Revenue Officer will focus on establishing and reinforcing enterprise-wide sales processes, further advancing the use of customer relationship management tools to enhance sales efficiency and market leadership.
- Efficient Team Building: Chasteen's background demonstrates his success in building high-performing teams and driving consistent results, which will bring greater rigor and accountability to Old National's sales delivery.

- Accelerating Loan Growth: Old National Bancorp's Q4 2025 earnings exceeded expectations despite revenue falling short of consensus, with analysts noting an acceleration in lending growth, indicating enhanced competitive positioning in the market.
- Optimistic NII Outlook: Analysts highlighted that Q4 2025's net interest income (NII) is tracking ahead of prior guidance, coupled with strong capital markets and mortgage banking performance, suggesting emerging revenue momentum that could drive future growth.
- Management's Strategic Focus: CEO Jim Ryan emphasized during the earnings call a focus on core deposit growth, positive operating leverage, disciplined credit management, and robust liquidity and capital ratios, demonstrating the company's commitment to sound operations.
- Stock Performance Recovery: ONB shares rose 2.8% in midday trading, bringing the year-to-date increase to 10.6%, reflecting growing market confidence in the company's future prospects, while TD Cowen's Buy rating contrasts with the generally Hold ratings from other analysts.







