Jim Dobbs

Policymakers signaled more reductions lie ahead, a development that could curb lenders' net interest income in the near term but support economic growth and credit quality.

EverBank Financial in Florida said the deal would give it $900 million of loans and $2 billion of deposits. Should the deal close in early 2025 as planned, it would end a long saga for Sterling.

Anticipated interest rate cuts could help stressed borrowers, but such a shift in monetary policy may curb lending income.

The Maine-based bank's bid for Northway Financial was valued at $86.6 million. It is expected to be finalized in the first quarter of 2025.

The all-stock transaction is slated to close in the second quarter of 2025. It would create a bank with more than $15 billion of assets.

The bank faced credit setbacks in the nation's capital and margin pressure this year. But it made a series of hires to reduce risk and diversify its loan portfolio, preparing for a new era of demand as the industry awaits interest rate cuts.

The deal to buy the First of Long Island Corp. would create a $14 billion-asset bank with $11 billion of both loans and deposits.

REV Federal Credit Union in suburban Charleston, South Carolina, plans to acquire First Neighborhood Bank in West Virginia. It marks the 15th deal this year involving a credit union buying a bank, closing in on 2022's record of 16 deals.

Lenders across the country selected new executives late in the summer, as did Virginia's community bank advocacy group.

Bridgewater Bancshares agreed to acquire First Minnetonka Bancorp. in an all-cash transaction slated to close in the fourth quarter. It would create a nearly $5 billion-asset bank.