Paul Davis

The $381 million-asset company said its bank was no longer under a consent order with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and the South Carolina State Board of Financial Institutions.

A unit of First Horizon National in Memphis, Tenn., has agreed to buy Coastal Securities, a Houston firm that trades, securitizes and analyzes Small Business Administration loans.

The group, known as First Boston Holdings, also plans to raise $100 million. The group said Admirals will be renamed Bank & Trust Company of Boston.

Opus Bank in Irvine, Calif., reported a larger-than-forecast quarterly loss after deciding to set aside more reserves than it predicted it would a week earlier.

Access National in Reston, Va., has agreed to buy Middleburg Financial in Virginia for $233.1 million, or $32.51 a share, in stock.

Community Bank System in Syracuse, N.Y., has agreed to buy Merchants Bancshares in South Burlington, Vt., for $304 million, or $44.02 a share, in cash and stock.

WestStar Bank in El Paso, Texas, said it has acquired assets from Cimarron Mortgage Capital that are to Cimarron's construction lending and residential mortgage divisions.

Home BancShares in Arkansas would rather buy banks that meet its financial parameters than do one large deal to catapult over $10 billion in assets. The bank also spent most of this year idling with M&A so it could prepare for stress testing.

Independent Bank in Rockland, Mass., has agreed to buy Island Bancorp in Edgartown, Mass.

Equity Bancshares in Wichita, Kan., has agreed to buy Prairie State Bancshares in Hoxie, Kan.

The California company plans to hire a second chief credit officer to specify monitor commercial lending and specialty lines. At least one analyst said the changes, which also include adjustments to credit policies, calls into question the company's strategic director and growth trajectory.

The company believes it is done making acquisitions in its home state. The next phase of growth will likely involve deals and strategic hiring in large urban markets across the Southeast.

SunTrust Banks in Atlanta has agreed to buy the multifamily lending business of Pillar Financial in New York.

East West Bancorp in Los Angeles reported higher quarterly profit that reflected balance sheet growth and lower taxes.

Opus Bank in Irvine, Calif., said Monday that it expects to report a third-quarter loss of 5 cents a share, reflecting $38.8 million in chargeoffs tied to eight loans in its technology, commercial and specialty lending divisions.

Regions Financial in Birmingham, Ala., has bought a business that manages low-income housing tax credits.

Northwest Bancshares in Warren, Pa., has agreed to buy Winans Insurance & Employee Benefits in Warren.

WSFS Financial in Wilmington, Del., has bought the assets of West Capital Management in Philadelphia.

Berkshire Hills Bancorp in Pittsfield, Mass., has agreed to buy the assets and certain liabilities of a wealth management firm in Vermont.

Salem Five Bancorp has agreed to buy Georgetown Bancorp in a deal that will combine two Massachusetts banks.