Paul Davis

A large activist investor has given an early vote of confidence to Malvern Bancorp's new chief executive, while backing off of demands that the Paoli, Pa., company sell itself.

Fidelity Southern in Atlanta has agreed to buy deposits and loans from Florida Capital Bank.

Glacier Bancorp in Kalispell, Mont., has agreed to buy Montana Community Banks Inc. in Ronan, Mont.

Clashes between directors and management are becoming routine at Cardinal Bankshares in Virginia, which recently forced out its CEO for the second time in two years.

Cardinal Bankshares in Floyd, Va., is switching leaders again, though it is unclear when the new chief executive will step in.

Sterling Bancorp in Montebello, N.Y., has agreed to buy Hudson Valley Holding in Yonkers, N.Y.

First Banks Inc. in St. Louis said that Terrance McCarthy will retire as president and CEO on Feb. 13. McCarthy will also step down from the board. Timothy Lake, president and CEO of banking unit First Bank, will succeed McCarthy.

Thomas H. Lee Partners and Warburg Pincus are selling the rest of their stock in Umpqua Holdings in Portland, Ore.

Berkshire Hills Bancorp in Pittsfield, Mass., has agreed to buy Hampden Bancorp in Springfield, Mass.

A group of investors has raised its stake in Doral Financial on a belief that the San Juan, Puerto Rico, company will prevail in its effort to claim a $230 million tax refund from the territory's government.

Suffolk Bancorp in Riverhead, N.Y., has sold its wealth management business to a unit of Provident Financial Services in Jersey City, N.J.

Chemical Financial in Midland, Mich., has agreed to buy Monarch Community Bancorp in Coldwater, Mich.

Pacific Commerce Bank in Los Angeles has agreed to buy Vibra Bank in Chula Vista, Calif.

S&T Bancorp in Indiana, Pa., has agreed to buy Integrity Bancshares in Camp Hill, Pa.

WesBanco in Wheeling, W.Va., has agreed to buy ESB Financial in Ellwood City, Pa.

Cheviot Financial in Cincinnati has agreed to add a director recommended by activist investor Seidman Group.

John Allison, the former chief executive of BB&T, has written another book, this time offering his free-market prescription for producing better leaders in America.

First Waterloo Bancshares in Waterloo, Ill., has agreed to buy Prairie Financial Bancorp in Stewardson, Ill.

First Niagara Financial Group in Buffalo, N.Y., reported a massive quarterly loss that had a number of large writedowns.

Heartland Financial USA in Dubuque, Iowa, has agreed to buy Community Banc-Corp of Sheboygan in Wisconsin.