Paul Davis

The $1.8 billion-asset Sunflower expects to combine with the $2.2 billion-asset Strategic Growth to create a company with $3 billion in loans and 60 branches in Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico and Texas.

Middlefield Banc Corp. in Ohio has agreed to buy Liberty Bank in Beachwood, Ohio.

Suffolk Bancorp in New York, which recently agreed to be sold to People's United Financial, discouraged several suitors from bidding due to concerns about concentrations of commercial real estate loans at those banks. The disclosures highlight the challenges that banks with heavy CRE exposure could face — as buyers or sellers — if they want to do deals.

First Commonwealth Financial in Indiana, Pa., has agreed to buy all 13 branches being divested by Huntington Bancshares as part of the approval to acquire FirstMerit.

The $1.4 billion-asset company said in a press release Tuesday that it had agreed to buy Oak Mortgage Co. in Marlton, N.J.

EverBank Financial in Jacksonville, Fla., confirmed that it is in talks to sell itself.

Anchor Bancorp in Lacey, Wash., which has been facing pressure from a prominent activist investor to sell itself, has hired an investment bank to explore strategic options.

First South Bancorp in Washington, N.C., has acquired a portfolio of mortgage servicing rights.

Citizens Bank in Elizabethton, Tenn., has agreed to buy American Trust Bank of East Tennessee in Knoxville.

LegacyTexas Financial Group in Plano has met its original purpose of becoming a big player in its home market.