Paul Davis

Rheo Brouillard, the head of SI Financial, finally had a solid offer in hand after more than two years of searching for a buyer. But the resignation 10 days later of the man who made him that offer — Berkshire Hills’ Michael Daly — sent Brouillard scrambling.

Why now? Will it work? How will their rivals respond? The megadeal between the two East Coast regionals offers up plenty of grist for speculation.

The industry's largest acquisition in more than a decade will create the sixth-biggest bank in the country, with assets of more than $442 billion.

John Asbury says his Virginia bank, soon to be renamed Atlantic Union Bank, could eventually stretch from Charlotte, N.C., to Baltimore and take on the big players that dominate those markets.

The company will gain four branches in Athens, Ga., with the $52 million acquisition.

The company said the move reflects intense competition and a "significant decline" in origination volume.

The Virginia company, which recently bought Access National, will become Atlantic Union Bank later this year.

Reliance Bancshares was in a position to reject five buyout offers over the course of a year before it got one it liked.

Bank First's deal for Partnership is the third Wisconsin bank merger announced this week.

Provident's investment adviser unit will have nearly $3 billion in assets under management after it buys Tirschwell & Loewy.

The company will pay $93 million for Kinderhook Bank, which has a concentration of branches around Albany.

The company will top $1 billion in assets after it buys the parent of F&M Bank in Tomah, Wis.

Greenwoods Financial will have $270 million in assets when it buys Fox River Financial.

John Milleson, who has led the company for 20 years, will retire after his successor is in place.

The North Carolina regional closed dozens of branches and cut jobs across the company, directing a chunk of the savings to digital banking initiatives.

The parent of Bell Bank said that the pending sale of Discovery Benefits is not a prelude to selling its bank.

The Montana company will more than double its assets in Utah when it buys FNB Bancorp.

The Iowa company will pay $94 million for a bank with five branches and $727 million in loans.

The company recently agreed to be sold to SmartFinancial in Knoxville, Tenn.

Bob Jones will retire in early May. He will be succeeded by Jim Ryan, the Indiana company's chief financial officer.