American Banker tech editor Barba leaving for Bankrate

Robert Barba, the technology editor of American Banker, is leaving for a job at Bankrate.

He starts Aug. 14 as a banking and fintech writer and analyst.

“I grew up at American Banker — I started on the eve of the financial crisis as a community banking reporter and leave as its technology editor,” said Barba in an email to Talking Biz News. “I thank American Banker and SourceMedia for all the support, including my continued involvement with SABEW and NAHJ. I will miss the tremendous team there but know they will continue to do outstanding work.

“I am excited to learn new skills and write about banking and fintech for consumers,” added Barba about Bankrate.

Prior to his move to the technology beat, Barba served as deputy editor of American Banker‘s dealmaking and strategy section. He joined American Banker in late 2007 as a community banking reporter, just in time for the financial crisis.

Barba played a lead role in covering community banks’ struggle for survival in the years following the downturn.

Barba has appeared on Fox Business to discuss bank failures and the Treasury Department’s Troubled Asset Relief Program. Prior to joining American Banker, Robert was a general business reporter at Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers in Stuart, Fla.

He began his career as a business desk intern at The Denver Post and Boulder Daily Camera.

Barba is a board member of the Society of American Business Editors and Writers.

Bankrate.com executive editor Katie Doyle said, “Robert Barba comes to Bankrate with a deep knowledge of the banking and financial technology industries at a time when banking is roaring back. Robert will take on Bankrate’s banking and financial technology coverage, digging deep on bank rate wars, uncovering deposit deals and guiding readers through the ins and outs of the fintech industry from the consumer side.”