Frank Gargano

The combination of Orion Federal Credit Union and Financial Federal Bank is the seventh credit union-bank merger announced this year.

Local financial institutions have fewer branches than big banks, and closing even one location makes it harder for them to serve their communities.

Chabot Federal Credit Union is combining with University Credit Union, which was founded on the UCLA campus.

The credit union is using Ameriprise Financial Institutions Group's system to add to the suite of investment services that it offers to members.

Gulf Coast Federal Credit Union has converted to a multiple common bond charter, which has no geographic limits, and is eyeing several potential new markets.

The regulatory agency issued two new prohibition orders, bringing the yearly total to 10.

Many workers get extra days off to celebrate all kinds of things, from their birthdays to a good regulatory exam score, or as a reward for charitable giving and other community involvement.

Last summer, the Wausau, Wis., bank combined two employee groups to form the ICEBreakers. Its mission is to support outstanding customer service and foster a positive workplace culture.

Since John Turner took over as CEO in July, Regions has announced several executive appointments, including promoting Kate Danella to oversee strategic planning.

The division, created after Sunflower hired lenders away from other banks, will focus on asset-based lending to middle-market companies and investors.

It's a fickle industry, given the uncertainty over the Affordable Care Act and government reimbursements, but opportunities in lending to medical practices and device manufacturers make it hard to resist, bankers say.

The card issuer Synchrony will continue to manage three cards for the national hardware chain. The timing is good as Synchrony recently lost a deal issuing cards for Walmart.

BayCom in Walnut Creek, Calif., would have a bigger presence in the Albuquerque area after buying Bethlehem Financial.

N.B.C. Bancshares' deal for Bank of Cushing will give it two branches an hour outside of Tulsa.

Toyota Financial Services has promoted a company insider to replace Mike Groff, who is retiring at the end of this month.

BofI has agreed to buy $3 billion of deposits from Nationwide Bank as part of the insurance giant's exit from retail banking. The deal comes three years after BofI bought H&R Block Bank's deposits.

Nick Shevelyov, former chief security officer, will now serve as its chief information officer. Robin Staples, former head of IT digital, will serve as the new chief technology officer.

Industry veteran A.W. Pickel III became president of Waterstone Mortgage in June, and now the company has decided to promote him to succeed longtime CEO Eric Egenhoefer.

Richwood Bancshares will get closer to $1 billion in assets after it buys Home City Financial.

The Oklahoma bank’s net charge-offs were its second-highest in the last five quarters, but the company said it was confident in its credit quality outlook and growth prospects from a pending acquisition.