Kristin Broughton

HomeTrust Bank faced a legal challenge from HomeTown Bank after it entered southwestern Virginia. The now-resolved dispute serves as a reminder that banks must be aware of branding challenges when they enter new markets.

Payza, a payment processor and digital wallet provider based in London, has released a tool that allows its merchant clients to accept payments from shoppers who have not previously enrolled with Payza.

Southern Bancorp in Arkadelphia, Ark., has agreed to buy the Bank of Bolivar County in Shelby, Miss.

Mutual-to-stock conversions are facing new hurdles, as evidenced by events at a pair of Massachusetts mutuals. Depositors at Beverly Bank recently rejected its proposed conversion, while Reading Co-op Bank changed its bylaws to make it more difficult to convert.

Think a Wall Street executive could win a goat-milking contest or be the ringman at a livestock auction? No chance, but they could learn from these small-town bankers in Indiana and Colorado.

Four Oaks Fincorp in Four Oaks, N.C., has raised $24 million through a rights offering.

New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has settled with debt collector Forster & Garbus regarding the firm's collection of payday loans.

Sun Bancorp in Mount Laurel, N.J., plans to raise approximately $20 million to fund its recent restructuring.

CenterState Banks in Davenport, Fla., plans to close additional branches from a recent acquisition.

Freedom Mortgage in Mount Laurel, N.J., has agreed to pay $104,000 to settle claims that it discriminated against loan applicants with disabilities.

The Bank of Edwardsville in Illinois has begun looking for a new chief executive, after its current CEO, Thomas Holloway, said he would retire next spring.

Web.com, a small-business Web design and marketing company, will promote MasterCard's Simplify Commerce platform in an expansion of the companies' e-commerce partnership.

The Bancorp in Wilmington, Del., has revised its second-quarter results and now says it turned a modest profit in the quarter that ended June 30.

M&F Bank in Durham, N.C., has named James H. Sills III as its president and chief executive.

MasterCard is offering its inControl system in the Asia-Pacific region through First Data, allowing corporations and consumers to manage their online purchases.

A payday lending executive who New York prosecutors say violated the state's usury laws is set to be arraigned Tuesday in a Manhattan court.

Mutual of Omaha Bank has agreed to sell five branches to CIC Bancshares in Denver.

Northern Trust in Chicago has appointed Peter Jordan as head of global fund services for the bank's Asia-Pacific region.

Virtual Piggy's Oink, a payment platform for teens, will become a payment option for users of Smilegate, a Korean gaming company.

Peoples Bancorp in Marietta, Ohio, has raised $40 million through a private placement.