Paul Davis

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.

Bank of the Ozarks (OZRK) in Little Rock, Ark., is planning to open a loan production office in New York.

BNC Bancorp in High Point, N.C., started making acquisitions in the Carolinas three years ago, with private-equity help. Now it can afford to take its time and digest while other banks feel pressure to buy.

A consortium of Mexican investors led by former Banco Popular executive Roberto Herencia has completed its recapitalization of Metropolitan Bank Group in Chicago, Crain's Chicago Business reported.

After less than a year on the job, BNC Financial CEO Peyton Patterson is looking at new markets, products and a plan to bring in up to $50 million in capital.

United Community Bank in Blairsville, Ga., expects a spike in second-quarter earnings after being cleared to reverse most of its deferred tax asset valuation allowance.

BNC Financial Group in New Canaan, Conn., is planning to change its name to Bankwell Financial.

The $4.2 billion-asset, Conway, Ark., company will pay $280 million in cash and stock for the $2.9 billion-asset Liberty.

Rough calculations reveal that the Greensboro, N.C., company could be pledging nearly $2 million in tangible common equity to back Security Savings' assets.

The $625 million-asset BNCF Financial will pay about $5 million in cash for the $75 million-asset Wilton. BNC Financial said it expects no tangible book value dilution after the deal is completed.

F.N.B. Corp. in Hermitage, Pa., has agreed to buy BCSB Bancorp in Baltimore in a stock transaction valued at $79 million, or $23.77 a share. The acquisition is the company's third in less than eight months.