Paul Davis

The $269 million-asset bank has named Russ Weyers as its president and chief executive, according to the Milwaukee Business Journal.

First Sound Bank in Seattle has agreed to buy Eastside Commercial Bank in Bellevue, Wash.

SVB Financial in Santa Clara, Calif., has agreed to sell a specialty finance business in India at a net loss.

Plaza Bancorp in Irvine, Calif., has agreed to buy Manhattan Bancorp in El Segundo, Calif.

Chemical Financial in Midland, Mich., has agreed to buy Lake Michigan Financial in Holland.

Federal Savings Bank in Chicago has agreed to buy Baytree National Bank & Trust in Lake Forest, Ill.

The Federal Reserve Board reappointed O.B. Grayson Hall Jr., chairman and chief executive at Regions Financial, to its Federal Advisory Council.

A unit of Provident Financial Services in Jersey City, N.J., has agreed to buy an investment adviser.

Webster Financial in Waterbury, Conn., has changed the name of its wealth planning unit.

Old Second Bancorp in Aurora, Ill., will soon start redeeming shares it issued as part of the Troubled Asset Relief Program.

Commercial firms' appetite for loans fell in November, though bankers have mixed views on why demand decreased. Meanwhile, financial institutions are managing to reduce deposit rates, which should help margins over the long run.

First NBC Bank Holding in New Orleans has agreed to buy State Investors Bancorp in New Orleans.

Valley National in Wayne, N.J., will use proceeds from a branch sale in New York City to offset costs tied to prepaying debt.

LCNB Corp. in Lebanon, Ohio, has agreed to buy BNB Bancorp in Brookville, Ohio.

On at least three occasions, Michael Daly flexed his bargaining muscles in discussions with Hampden Bancorp. His tenacity led to a privately negotiated deal, a reduced exchange ratio and an amended employment agreement with Hampden's chief lending officer.

Dan Rollins' ability to have a BSA-related consent order removed and get two acquisitions back on track could embolden more big community banks to pursue deals next year.

Fairmount Bancorp in Baltimore seems poised to face a proxy battle next year from activist investor Joseph Stilwell.

BofI Holding in San Diego has agreed to buy $125 million in deposit accounts from a unit of First Marblehead.

Citizens National in Paintsville, Ky., has acquired Peoples Security Bancorp in Louisa, Ky.

Deals and departures were common trends among bankers we highlighted as worth watching in 2014. In fact, only a few bankers managed to avoid major headlines in the past year.