Paul Davis

Solera National Bancorp in Lakewood, Colo., is looking for a new president and chief executive.

CenterState will pay $77 million in cash and stock for Gulfstream, which focuses on small businesses and medical practices.

A sharp increase in long-term interest rates caused a slowdown in loan demand in June that overshadowed a much-needed inflection point with pricing.

InsBank in Nashville, Tenn., has created a division that will focus on serving physicians.

Berkshire Hills Bancorp in Pittsfield, Mass., is planning a comprehensive review designed to reduce core operating costs.

Porter Bancorp in Louisville is poised to make John Taylor its chief executive after the sudden retirement of Maria Bouvette. The move could improve its changes of attracting new investors to recapitalize it.

German American Bancorp in Jasper, Ind., has agreed to buy United Commerce Bancorp in Bloomington, Ind.

Bank analyst Brian Foran poked fun at his own job-hopping during a regional bank's second-quarter earnings call.

The Alabama regional bank, which struggled to jumpstart top-line growth during the second quarter, is hiring financial consultants and holding more 15-year mortgages.

First Niagara Financial in Buffalo, N.Y., has settled another severance issue involving a former executive.

Regions Financial reported lower second-quarter earnings after the Birmingham, Ala., company restructured its debt and redeemed certain securities.

Executives at SunTrust hope higher interest rates eventually translate into more new mortgages and wider margins, but the hit to its refinancing business is forcing cost cuts and balance sheet adjustments now.

SunTrust Banks in Atlanta reported higher second-quarter earnings that reflected the elimination of more than 2,000 positions in the past year.

Independent Bank Group has agreed to buy Collin Bank, the first acquisition for Independent since it raised $87 million in an April initial public offering.

Chemung Financial in Elmira, N.Y., has agreed to buy six branches in upstate New York from Bank of America.

Columbia Banking System's chief operating officer and executive vice president Mark Nelson will retire on Sept. 30.

First Merchants (FRME) in Muncie, Ind., had healthy competition in its effort to buy CFS Bancorp (CITZ) in Munster, Ind.

Another FBR bank analyst is leaving the northern Virginia boutique to pursue a career in investor relations. Brett Scheiner has left FBR to become the investor relations officer for Popular Inc. (BPOP) in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Home Savings Bank in Madison, Wis., is planning to convert from a mutual thrift to a stock-owned company.

Downward pressure on loan pricing is putting a slight damper on otherwise positive results in American Banker's latest Index of Banking Activity.