Paul Davis

Duncan-Williams, which serves institutional clients, will help South State expand its correspondent lending operations.

The South Carolina company has agreed to buy the parent of Security Federal Bank.

The proposed Multi-Bank shares an address with the Fort Lauderdale, Fla., office of Multi-Bank Securities.

The company, which recently completed an audit, set aside funds to cover issues tied with a lending program it discontinued last year. The move cleared the way for Sterling to file an overdue annual report with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The Georgia company will add nearly $200 million in assets as part of the acquisition.

Climate First Bank, which would be led by veteran banker Ken LaRoe, would offer loans to help individuals and organizations make environmentally sound decisions.

The company said Todd Brice will retire in March. A search firm will consider internal and external candidates.

The coronavirus outbreak has taught community bankers to think on their feet and experiment. Speakers at an industry conference this week advised their peers to stay innovative to ensure they endure in a changing world.

The company joins a growing list of community banks paring back their networks.

Virginia National and Fauquier Bankshares are planning to create a $1.6 billion-asset company focused on the middle part of the state.