Joseph Kellard

BancorpSouth in Tupelo, Miss., has hired Kyle Gilliam as president of its equipment finance and leasing division.

Meta Financial Group in Sioux Falls, S.D., has promoted Cynthia Smith, its head of technology and operations, to chief operating officer.

These are S&P's first-ever ratings for CUNA Mutual.

Biz Kid$, the credit union-funded public television series, will receive 14 new grants from the National Credit Union Foundation as part of its efforts to teach children about money management and entrepreneurship.

CommunityOne Bancorp in Charlotte, N.C., has scheduled its annual meeting as it waits for regulators to sign off on its sale to Capital Bank Financial in Coral Gables, Fla.

United Roosevelt Savings Bank in Carteret, N.J., has agreed to buy Wawel Financial Services in Garfield, N.J.

The chief financial officer of Green Bancorp will leave the Houston company in October, although he will maintain ties to it.

Coastal Banking Co. in Beaufort, S.C., promoted Charles Wagner to president and hired Thomas Flournoy to be its new chief financial officer.

Marlin Business Services in Mt. Laurel, N.J., has partnered with electronics manufacturer JVCKenwood USA to provide financing plans for its customers.

Standard Financial Corp. in Monroeville, Pa., has agreed to buy Allegheny Valley Bancorp in Pittsburgh for $56.5 million.

CapStar Financial Holdings in Nashville, Tenn., whose board includes a top Credit Suisse executive, has filed plans to raise up to $46 million in an initial public offering.

Park Sterling in Charlotte, N.C., has negotiated an early termination of loss-share agreements with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. for about $15.5 million in assets.

How can credit unions build community partnerships to provide more products and services?

Metropolitan Bank Holding Corp. in New York has raised $34.4 million through a stock offering.

F.N.B. in Pittsburgh plans to retain some Yadkin Financial executives and assign them to key roles after it closes its purchase of the North Carolina bank.

San Diego County Credit Union in Calif. reported above standard ratios, stable assets and increased member growth during the second-quarter.

The Credit Union League of Connecticut (CULCT) and CATIC have partnered to provide professional title services to the state's credit unions and their policy-issuing attorneys.

A director at Citizens Independent Bancorp in Logan, Ohio, resigned after members of management chastised him for an email security breach.

New Bancorp in New Buffalo, Mich., has hired Shawna Zawada as controller and principal financial officer, days after Russell Dahl resigned as chief financial officer.

Opus Bank in Irvine, Calif., has started a public finance division and hired an executive from Umpqua Bank in Oregon to run it.