Paul Davis

Opus Bank has added Paul Greig, who was CEO of FirstMerit until its sale in July, as a director.

Specialization — either in types of customers, lines of business or distinct geographies — is one of the best ways for small banks to outdo larger rivals that rely on scale to make money.

Ashton Ryan, who had been removed as CEO in December, had been serving as its president. The New Orleans company also agreed to sell preferred stock to directors to help it make payments tied to its subordinated debt.

The deal, which is expected to close in the fourth quarter, should significantly increase PacWest's operations in Southern California.

The company will sell five branches in Wisconsin to an unnamed buyer. It also plans to close two locations.

The Tennessee company has been working to resolve a memorandum of understanding tied to its CRE exposure.

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency issued the directive following an interim examination.

Opes Advisors has 39 locations in California, Oregon and Washington. The firm generated $3 billion in mortgages last year.

Live Oak Bancshares in North Carolina has hired Scott Custer to run its bank. Custer recently resigned as a consultant to F.N.B. Corp. in a move that took place days after F.N.B. bought Yadkin Financial, where he had been president and CEO.

Scott Custer resigned as a director and paid consultant to F.N.B. days after the Pittsburgh company bought Yadkin to enter North Carolina.

The California company will lease space on three floors of the building, while keeping a branch at the location.

Mid Penn agreed to pay $59 million for Scottdale Bank in a deal that is expected to close in the third quarter.

It took several offers for First Busey to seal a deal to buy First Community Financial Partners, and the details in a recent public filing of the back and forth between the two Illinois banks show how patience in merger negotiations is a must.

Plimoth Investment Advisors, a firm owned by two mutuals in Massachusetts, is buying the business.

Citizens will pay about $40 million in cash and stock for the $269 million-asset Wells in a deal set to close in the third quarter.

The Fed said it will conduct extensive reviews only of deals that create banks with assets of $100 billion, replacing the prior mark of $25 billion. The disclosure was included in the Fed's approval of People's United's purchase of Suffolk Bancorp.

The cuts punctuate the end to a rapid expansion period at the company, which now seems to be prioritizing profitability over growth.

Selling a participation in a line of credit to the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority reduced the company's nonperforming assets by 9%.

The New Orleans company, which recently sold nine branches and $1.3 billion in loans, was ordered to raise more capital or find a buyer.

Farmers National will pay about $7.8 million in cash and stock for the $43.3 million-asset Monitor in a deal that should close in the second or third quarter.