
Paul Davis
Founder, Bank SlatePaul Davis is the founder of Bank Slate, a financial strategy and research firm. He previously led community bank coverage at American Banker.

Paul Davis is the founder of Bank Slate, a financial strategy and research firm. He previously led community bank coverage at American Banker.
PBB Bancorp in Los Angeles and First Mountain Bank in Big Bear Lake, Calif., are discussing a merger.
First Capital in Corydon, Ind., has agreed to buy Peoples Bancorp Inc. of Bullitt County in Shepherdsville, Ky.
Liberty Bank in Middletown, Conn., has agreed to buy Naugatuck Valley Financial in Naugatuck, Conn.
An investment bank cautioned Bank of the Ozarks that its target, Bank of the Carolinas, was in talks with another suitor and "did not wish to jeopardize that transaction," a filing disclosed. The Arkansas acquirer pushed on and ended up walking away with the deal less than two months later.
Washington Trust Bancorp in Westerly, R.I., has agreed to buy Halsey Associates, an investment advisory firm in New Haven, Conn.
The South Carolina bank has been shedding assets in recent months after suffering millions of dollars in losses in recent years. The bank ousted its management team last year due to poor financial performance and conflicts with investors.
Heartland Financial in Dubuque, Iowa, has agreed to buy Premier Valley Bank in Fresno, Calif.
Southwest Bancorp in Stillwater, Okla., has agreed to buy First Commercial Bancshares in Edmond, Okla.
Green Bancorp in Houston has agreed to buy Patriot Bancshares, saying it will pay $139 million in common stock for the $1.3 billion-asset parent of Patriot Bank.
Valley National Bancorp in Wayne, N.J., has agreed to buy CNLBancshares in Orlando, Fla.
Harvard Illinois Bancorp, which has struggled with persistent activist pressure and exposure to a fraud scheme, is preparing to wind down its operations.
Isabella Bank in Mt. Pleasant, Mich., has agreed to buy a branch from Independent Bank in Grand Rapids, Mich.
Seacoast Banking Corp. of Florida in Stuart has acquired First Growth Capital, a firm that handles receivables funding.
Prudential Bancorp in Philadelphia is setting the stage for a new chief executive.
WashingtonFirst Bankshares in Reston, Va., has agreed to buy direct mortgage lender 1st Portfolio Holding Corp. in Fairfax, Va.
Flushing Financial in Uniondale, N.Y., has sold three branch properties in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Investors have varied expectations of how banks should build and deploy capital. Ultimately, management teams need to stick to their growth plans rather than serve the whims of specific shareholders.
Baylake Corp. in Sturgeon Bay, Wis., has agreed to buy New Bancshares in Kewaunee, Wis.
Hanmi Financial in Los Angeles is planning to close four branches.
Premier Financial Bancorp in Huntington, W.Va., has completed its exit from the Troubled Asset Relief Program.