Jim Dobbs

Increased interest income would boost lending profitability, but only if borrowers are confident enough in the economy to take out loans. And that's just one of the issues hammering banks' shares.

The number of acquisition announcements in April was less than half the level of a year earlier. Experts attribute this to stock market weakness, higher interest rates and elevated regulatory scrutiny.

Cambridge Bancorp in Massachusetts said it would acquire Northmark Bank in a transaction valued at $63 million.

First Northern Community Bancorp Chief Executive Louise Walker said she will hand over the bank’s reins to its chief operating officer at the end of 2022.

Agility Bank, formed to serve local businesses operated by women, plans to launch in late May.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture expects farm profits to drop by 8% this year due to multiple factors, creating credit quality questions for ag banks.

Click here for an overview of No. 1-10 on American Banker's annual list of the highest-performing banks with less than $2 billion of assets and a full breakdown of all the banks on the roster.

Perennial No. 1 Oregon Bancorp, which operates as Willamette Valley Bank, boasts strong sources of fee and interest income, sound underwriting and vibrant geographic markets. It’s a formula shared by many on American Banker's list of the 200 highest-performing publicly traded small banks.

Completion of U.S. Bancorp’s $8 billion acquisition of MUFG Union Bank, originally slated for June, has been pushed to the second half of 2022, the seller’s parent company says.

Foes ousted Hill as leader of the divided board after the death of one of his key allies. Hill remains CEO.

Banks report solid commercial and industrial loan demand, but are increasingly concerned about how soaring inflation and the specter of recession will affect their clients.

Multiple factors have slowed residential sales, tightening the market for home loans for banks and credit unions.

The Florida bank said it would pay $173 million to buy Drummond Banking, which operates 18 branches in the northern part of the state.

United Community, which bought Reliant Bancorp in Tennessee earlier this year, would deepen its presence in several Southeastern markets and expand its wealth management business with its deal for Progress Financial.

Even "lifers" are considering new jobs as financial institutions bulk up to expand into new markets.

First Citizens BancShares said its $2.2 billion acquisition of CIT Group, closed in the first quarter after months of regulatory delays, is finally coming together.

The Mississippi-based First says the deal would allow it to acquire key talent, bolster its presence in northwest Florida and expand into the Tampa area.

Although small banks and credit unions are enjoying healthier loan portfolios, they are also bracing for potential setbacks due to higher interest rates and inflation.

Noah Bank is considering proposals from an investor group and a New Jersey-based peer.

Earnings and total loans fell in the first quarter at M&T, but the Buffalo, New York, bank offered a rosier forecast for the rest of 2022. The outlook anticipates a shot in the arm from the recent acquisition of People's United Financial.