Paul Davis

Talmer Bancorp has agreed to buy and recapitalize First Place Bank in Warren, Ohio, in a deal that will work its way through the bankruptcy process.

State Bank Financial (STBZ) in Atlanta reported a drop in quarterly earnings as income tied its past failed-bank deals fell.

Banks in the Magnolia State have built up capital and profits, and their owners are hoping the state's poor national reputation will shield them for a while from big rivals and M&A trends.

Eagle Bancorp in Bethesda, Md., plans to sell more than $10 million in stock to go along with a $35 million offering that it recently completed.

Banks in the forecasted path of Hurricane Sandy braced Sunday for the storm, while making plans to help their operations weather it without interruption.

Gregory Mitchell, who left First PacTrust Bancorp last month, has joined First Tech Federal Credit Union as president and CEO. In a letter posted on First Tech's website, Mitchell admitted to having a credit union membership while running at least two banks.

First Financial Northwest in Renton, Wash., a $973 million-asset company, lost $791,000 in the third quarter, compared to net income of $1.4 million in the second quarter and profit of $623,000 a year earlier.

Federal regulators are reviewing banks' growth plans, particularly those that include third-party companies. To avoid excessive scrutiny, industry experts advise banks to proactively discuss such relationships with examiners.

Kelly King, the North Carolina company's CEO, vowed to remain conservative while scouting out opportunities in multifamily and office development.

BB&T's third-quarter earnings dipped from midyear after it incurred costs from buying BankAtlantic and issued preferred stock.

Regulation and low interest rates are challenging all banks, but a panel of CEOs at the American Bankers Association's annual convention shared tips on how they believe smaller institutions can succeed.

While Comptroller Tom Curry made it clear that regulators will not back down from a push for higher capital levels, he suggested the agencies are considering other ways to reduce the burden of the Basel III proposal for community banks.

Signature, a New York bank led by frugal CEO Joseph DePaolo, is laser-focused on commercial clients and niche lines in an age when others are trying to be all things to all people.

NBT Bancorp (NBTB) will acquire Alliance Financial (ALNC) in a deal valued at $233 million.

Matt Williams, incoming chairman of the American Bankers Association, says banks can rebound by drawing on lessons from past crises, updating business models and hiring a new generation of bankers.

"The Financial Crisis and the Free Market Cure," delivers on expectations that former BB&T chief John Allison would continue to put heavy blame on politicians for the panic of 2008 and the lingering economic malaise.

Landmark Credit Union joins a growing list of tax-exempt institutions finalizing deals to buy banks or thrifts.

Kevin Kabat has been named vice chairman at Fifth Third. The Cincinnati company also said that Greg Carmichael, its chief operating officer, would become its president. There are no plans for Kabat, who has been Fifth Third's CEO since 2007, to leave.

Suffolk Bancorp is looking to grow after a large purge of nonperforming assets under CEO Howard Bluver.

Wintrust Financial (WTFC) has agreed to buy HPK Financial, the parent of Hyde Park Bank and Trust.