Paul Davis

The $32 million purchase of Sunshine Financial will provide First Bancshares with its first branches in Tallahassee, Fla.

Bigger rivals are making inroads into small banks' bread-and-butter business line, yet the leaders of three community banks say they just need to keep doing what they do best — personal service — but work harder at it and incorporate new technology.

The Tennessee company also set high expectations for revenue opportunities while projecting it will deliver a 15% return on equity in 2019.

The company agreed to buy TCSB Bancorp, the parent of Traverse City State Bank, for $63 million.

Guaranty Federal Bancshares in Springfield, Mo., has agreed to buy Hometown Bancshares in Carthage.

Integrity is set to become the third Houston-area bank acquired by Independent in recent years.

FCB will pay $88 million in cash and stock for Floridian in a deal that will boost its operations near Miami.

The company agreed to pay $169 million for First Evanston Bancorp in Illinois.

HomeStreet's CEO said mortgage expansion and bank acquisitions — concerns highlighted recently by Blue Lion Capital — are helping the company diversify.

Bay Bancorp shareholders will get the added payouts if the Maryland bank's management settles a lawsuit and addresses a number of bad credits.