Paul Davis

Word that Hancock Holding in Mississippi would more than double its loan-loss allowance has triggered broader questions about how the oil slump could spread beyond the energy portfolios of a whole class of banks.

Western Alliance Bancorp. in Phoenix has agreed to buy GE Capital's hotel franchise finance loan portfolio.

Royal Financial in Chicago has agreed to sell $25.8 million of distressed assets associated with its pending purchase of Park Bancorp in Chicago.

Fentura Financial in Fenton, Mich., has agreed to buy Community Bancorp in St. Charles, Mich.

TriCo Bancshares in Chico, Calif., paid a lower deposit premium for its purchase of Bank of America branches after deposit levels at those offices fell.

Northwest Bancshares in Warren, Pa., has agreed to buy Best Insurance Agency, an employee benefits and property and casualty insurance firm in Butler, Pa.

Central Bancshares in Muscatine, Iowa, has agreed to buy Brimfield Bank in Brimfield, Ill.

South State in Columbia, S.C., has promoted one of its executives to become chief executive of its bank.

Guaranty Bancorp in Denver has agreed to buy Home State Bancorp in Loveland, Colo., for $133.7 million in cash and stock. The deal is expected to close in the summer.

American Banker Research's Index of Banking Activity, which had the lowest reading in its nearly four-year history in January, revealed that issues in oil-producing states are contributing to decreases in commercial loan applications and approvals.

BB&T in Winston-Salem, N.C., has increased the roles of two executives as part of an effort to focus more on digital projects.

First Community Financial Partners in Joliet, Ill., has agreed to buy First Mazon Bancorp in Mazon, Ill.

C1 Financial in Tampa, Fla., was unable to seize an opportunity to bring in more money for its sale to Bank of the Ozarks in Little Rock, Ark.

Ray Grace, North Carolina's banking commissioner, believes federal bank regulators should embrace charters for banks dedicated to innovation. Doing so, he said, would help the banking industry secure its spot as a "laboratory for change."

Norwood Financial in Honesdale, Pa., has agreed to buy Delaware Bancshares in Walton, N.Y.

That is the message from North Carolina's banking commissioner and others who think the odds of preventing the rule are so low, and the amount of preparation needed to comply so great, that bankers should get real.

BBCN Bancorp withstood numerous overtures from Hanmi Financial — and a revolt by four of its own directors — as it negotiated a deal to buy Wilshire Bancorp. A new filing discloses just how intense those pressures were.

Add BB&T to the list of banks bolstering reserves because of growing concerns about energy exposure.

Huntington Bancshares made five pitches to buy FirstMerit. It took a fixed cash component, several board seats and hefty commitments to FirstMerit's employees and major markets in Ohio and Michigan to seal the deal.

Triumph Bancorp in Dallas has agreed to buy ColoEast Bankshares in Lamar, Colo.