John Reosti

Eastern Financial Corp. provides a rich source of low-cost deposits that the larger Mercantile Bancorp can put to work in funding its much stronger loan growth.

A July pickup in activity is just a start, experts say. The banking industry's drive for scale and greater efficiency is expected to drive a renewed wave of consolidation, pushing the institution count lower.

The Columbus, Ohio-based regional bank also benefited from strong performances by several legacy business lines, including auto, mortgages and SBA lending.

The Minneapolis-based bank reported solid commercial growth during the second quarter, with the momentum carrying over into July.

The New York-based company reported big increases in investment banking and trading revenue, and said it might consider a deal to boost its asset and wealth management business.

Strong fee income growth and solid credit quality helped offset weak demand for credit as the San Francisco-based bank reported a 20% boost to earnings per share from a year ago.

The Columbus, Ohio-based company plans to acquire Veritex Holdings, which has grown into one of the Lone Star State's biggest commercial banks over the past 15 years.

The buyer said its $70 million cash-and-stock deal for Farmers State Bank will boost its presence in the northeast section of Ohio, and provide plenty of low-cost deposits

First Northwest Bancorp is parting ways with CEO Matt Deines "by mutual agreement," the Port Angeles, Washington-based company said. Deines' departure comes a month after a hedge fund sued, alleging the lender was complicit in a Ponzi scheme.

Bill Martin, a real estate developer and athletics executive who founded the community bank in 1996, said he considers the privately held institution to be "like one of my kids."