Jim Dobbs

Applications for small business and commercial real estate loans are rising, creating some optimism among lenders — and more temptation to loosen standards to land those borrowers.

Lenders including Howard Bancorp and First Carolina Bank are shunning acquisitions as a route into new markets, to avoid overpaying for targets and inheriting potential loan problems.

The company had delayed a vote set for late April to give it more time to collect the legally required support from two-thirds of its outstanding shares.

The company, which has faced opposition from a big investor, had to reschedule its shareholder vote after it was unable to secure the legally required two-thirds backing of outstanding shares at an April 27 meeting.

Kerry Killinger, former CEO of Washington Mutual, says the asset bubbles and increased consumer debt that contributed to his company's failure are reappearing.

At first the deal seemed an unlikely marriage of two mortgage-heavy companies. But acquiring the Michigan company would help New York Community accomplish its two chief goals — reducing deposit costs and its concentration of multifamily loans — while giving it the scale to pursue more deals.

The company promoted Bob Fehlman to become its president and hired Jay Brogdon from Stephens Inc. to succeed Fehlman as chief financial officer.

Clarity on credit quality has bankers ready to strike deals after a lengthy pause. A steady rise in stock prices has also given potential buyers the financial wherewithal to pursue acquisitions.

BofA is awash in liquidity, but an uptick in credit card applications and heightened interest from commercial borrowers have executives hopeful that loan demand will soon rebound.

The Iowa company, which operates a dozen individually branded banks, now has a name that matches its stock symbol.

Brian Mauntel, who previously served as president of Heartland Bank in Ohio, will join Citizens Business Bank in late April.

Katz Investment agreed to buy Camp Grove Bancorp in March 2019. The Federal Reserve approved the buyer's application to form a bank holding company earlier this year.

The California company has not established a time or pricing for the IPO.

With its deal for Century Bancorp, Eastern will significantly boost its deposit share in greater Boston while gaining an entrée into several new business lines, including cannabis banking.

HoldCo Asset Management is trying to convince shareholders ahead of an April 27 vote that the deal's $900 million price is too low, while Boston Private's board characterized its negotiations as "carefully designed and calibrated."

Bankers are already working on marketing materials and new products for commercial borrowers that might secure government contracts under President Biden's $2 trillion American Jobs Plan.

The Oklahoma regional bank said Steven Bradshaw plans to retire in March 2022.

The Michigan company recently paid $70 million to close the books on a matter dating to the last financial crisis.

Over the past year, bankers have been able to sit back and field calls from borrowers eager to take advantage of low rates. Now, with rates rising, many in the industry will likely adopt a more aggressive approach.

Four months into the job, Charles Shaffer has struck a deal for Legacy Bank of Florida and is eyeing more acquisitions. His predecessor, Dennis Hudson III, built Seacoast with more than a dozen buyouts across the Sunshine State.