SouthCrest Financial Group (SCSG) in Peachtree City, Ga., has received regulatory approval to merge its four banks into a single charter operating under the name SouthCrest Bank.

The Federal Reserve Board has terminated enforcement actions with Cornerstone Holding Co. in Fargo, N.D., and Commerce Bancshares in Catoosa, Okla.

Union First Market Bankshares (UBSH) in Richmond, Va., has taken a stake in a local payments firm.

U.S. Bancorp (USB) in Minneapolis has agreed to buy the Chicago branches of RBS Citizens Financial Group, a deal that would double its deposit share in the Windy City.

Tompkins Financial (TMP) in Ithaca, N.Y., has promoted Scott Gruber to chief executive of its subsidiary VIST Bank in Wyomissing, Pa. He succeeded Robert Davis, who retired as chief executive on Dec. 31.

Bay Bancorp (BYBK) in Lutherville, Md., has hired two executives.

Community Bank in Pasadena, Calif., has hired a chief executive.

The vice chairman of M&T Bank (MTB) has resigned, spurring the Buffalo company to expand the roles of a handful of top executives.

The Sniper's main contribution seems to be shooting down others' ideas. The Historian defends the status quo to the end and the Jetson is convinced the bank's existence rides on the latest technology craze. All of these mind-sets are shortsighted.

Square 1 Financial in Durham, N.C., is planning an initial public offering.

Glacier Bancorp (GBCI) in Kalispell, Mont., has reclassified 15% of its investment securities portfolio.

The finalization of the Volcker Rule signals that banks have reached "the height of the regulatory burden that has been placed on banks" since 2008, according to ConnectOne CEO Frank Sorrentino III. Now bankers just need to figure out how to fully comply with these new rules. Sorrentino, also a board member of the American Bankers Association, discusses his outlook for industry regulation in 2014.

Little Bank (LTLB) in Kinston, N.C., said in a press release Monday that fouder and chairman, Felix Harvey, died on Jan. 2. He was 93.

The Minneapolis company has inked a deal to buy 105 Chicago-area branches of Citizens Financial Group, the U.S. bank owned by Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC, Crain's Chicago Business reported Monday.

The Denver city council passed a proclamation Monday asking that Colorado's legal marijuana businesses be granted access to the nation's banking system.

Cincinnati's First Financial Bancorp amassed a lot of capital thanks to failed-bank deals but took its time deciding what to do with it. Its three recent expansion moves put it in the company of other failed-bank buyers that are shifting to open-bank M&A.

Opus Bank in Irvine, Calif., has expanded its recently created health care unit with the hiring of Randall Boba as first vice president and senior portfolio manager.

Elmira Savings Bank (ESBK) in Elmira, N.Y., has redeemed the remaining $3.5 million of preferred stock issued to the Treasury Department through the Small Business Lending Fund.

Banking is increasingly a data-driven business. By creating a shared data and analytics utility, community banks could glean valuable insights on their business currently available only to large institutions.

Activist investor PL Capital has taken a $3.5 million stake in Old Point Financial (OPOF) in Hampton, Va.