Brian Browdie

Bank of the Ozarks in Little Rock, Ark., is raising its profile in North Carolina. The $4 billion-asset company announced Friday it is buying The First National Bank of Shelby in Shelby, N.C., for roughly $67.8 million in cash and stock.

Historically a single-family lender, New York thrift Astoria Financial looks to improve profits by focusing on commercial and multifamily loans.

U.S. banks may be putting the effects of the financial crisis behind them, but they remain vulnerable to an economic slowdown.

Consumers continue to be fooled by social engineering, according to RSA research.

An increase in fee income fueled StellarOne (STEL) in Charlottesville, Va., in the fourth quarter.

Revenue from mortgage banking boosted profits at Taylor Capital Group in the fourth quarter.

Increased lending boosted quarterly results at Sandy Spring Bancorp in Olney, Md.

Loans and refinancings propelled Eagle Bancorp (EGBN) in Bethesda, Md., to its 16th consecutive profitable quarter.

The nation's second biggest bank by assets said Wednesday that it has named Arnold Donald, a former chief executive of Merisant, and Lionel Nowell 3rd, a former treasurer at PepsiCo, directors.

Citigroup is widening regional responsibilities for one of its business bankers. The company's commercial banking arm said Wednesday it has named Shawn McGowen president of the unit's central region.

General Electric (GE) has agreed to settle a lawsuit charging it with wrongdoing in the sale of securities backed by residential mortgages.

Loans and fees lifted Community National Bank in Great Neck, N.Y., in the fourth quarter.

Flushing Financial in Lake Success, N.Y., is set to convert to a bank.

Digital security firm Radware found that distributed denial of service attacks against banks rose 170% in 2012.

Univest (UVSP) in Souderton, Pa., reported lower quarterly earnings because of higher expenses.

Better credit quality helped Bank of Commerce (BONC) in Charlotte, N.C., narrow its losses.

BV Financial (BVFL) in Baltimore added profits in the company's fiscal second quarter.

State Street Corp. said Friday it will shed roughly 630 positions, or 2% of its global work force, in the coming year.

Southwest Bancorp (OKSB) in Stillwater, Okla., reported higher earnings because of lower expenses, fewer loan losses and higher fee revenue.

Higher costs weighed on UMB Financial (UMBF) in Kansas City, Mo., in the fourth quarter. Earnings at the $14.9 billion-asset company fell 9.4% from a year earlier, to $21.1 million.