Kristin Broughton

American Capital Partners has recruited two Raymond James analysts to launch a research unit focused on small and mid-cap banks in the New York area.

Wintrust Financial in Chicago has formed a division to focus on the city's start-up community.

Northwest Bancshares in Warren, Pa., has bought B.J. Petruso Agency in Meadville, Pa.

City Holding in Charleston, W. Va., has sold its insurance division to The Hilb Group, a broker based in Richmond, Va.

Stage Stores, a department store chain based in in Houston, has beefed up its payment security with technology from Chase Paymentech and Ingenico.

Central Valley Community Bank in Fresno, Calif., plans to report a fourth-quarter loss because of a hefty chargeoff of commercial loans.

National Commerce in Birmingham, Ala., is looking to raise $50 million through an initial public offering.

A San Diego-based debt collector has agreed to pay $675,000 in civil penalties and give up $18 million won in court fights against 4,500 consumers, New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said Friday.

Kofax, a financial technology company in Irvine, Calif., on Thursday released a product that allows lenders to capture and process electronic signatures.

The company said in a press release Thursday that it redeemed preferred shares worth $76.46 million that were issued under the program to the Treasury Department.

Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin addressed speculation about a possible presidential bid during a speech to the Wisconsin Bankers Association.

Guaranty Bancshares in Mount Pleasant, Texas, has agreed to buy DCB Financial in Dallas.

Skrill, an e-commerce provider based in New York, plans to offer its digital wallet as a payment option in Second Life, the once-popular virtual world game that was released in 2003.

Wirecard, a digital payments company based in Germany, has partnered with Five by Five, a software provider in Croatia, to provide mobile point of sale technology to small businesses.

Home BancShares in Conway, Ark., has named a new chief for its banking unit.

The $8.9 billion-asset company said in a statement provided to American Banker on Wednesday that it plans to use the capital to support future growth.

NCUA on Wednesday released two online videos aimed at educating consumers about cyber fraud.

The founder and chairman of 1st Century Bank in Los Angeles has been named to chair the city's tourism and convention board.

Hamilton Bancorp in Towson, Md., has a new chairman.

Heritage Oaks Bancorp in Paso Robles, Calif., has hired a veteran banker to fill a newly created post.