Jim Dobbs

Seacoast Banking Corp. of Florida, which has bought 10 banks over the past decade, has agreed to acquire community banks in Sarasota and Melbourne.

Bankers are hopeful that the rebound in oil prices and a spike in natural gas use are precursors to more borrowing. But banks are maintaining above-average levels of reserves in case the delta variant stifles economic momentum.

Minnwest Bank, which focuses largely on agriculture lending, said it will “become more sophisticated" with its mortgage and consumer lending services by acquiring Roundbank.

The Arkansas bank has hired an 11-member team to develop its new operation. Much of the team joins from TCF Financial, which was sold to Huntington Bancshares in June.

Alabama Credit Union's agreement to buy Security Federal Savings Bank, a small commercial lender, renews lingering questions about whether small banks are prey for tax-advantaged credit unions.

Stacy Kymes, the bank's chief operating officer and a 25-year company veteran, will succeed the retiring Steven Bradshaw.

“You need scale to keep up with necessary technology spend and regulatory costs,” CEO James Hillebrand said in explaining why the bank agreed to buy Commonwealth Bank & Trust just three months after it bought Kentucky Bancshares.

First Hawaiian and Bank of Hawaii are warning that a global spike in coronavirus cases could stunt the state's momentum and threaten credit quality.

The high cost of living in the state's bigger markets is limiting growth and turning off buyers. CVB Financial and TriCo Bancshares found sellers in the more affordable cities of Visalia and Bakersfield.

Wintrust has developed a specialty financing insurance premium payments for companies and individuals while PacWest and Signature Bank are meeting strong demand for loans to venture funds that invest in technology firms.