Bank of Wausau was shut down by Wisconsin regulators Friday.

Roma Financial (ROMA) in Robbinsville, N.J., swung to a loss in the second quarter thanks to a check-kiting scheme.

Deal activity was hottest in the Southeast and Midwest, Stifel and KBW moved up in the advisory rankings after combining forces and a BankThink point-counterpoint addresses the taboo subject of whether bank mergers are worth doing.

Jacksonville Bancorp (JAXB) in Florida recorded its second straight quarterly profit as it continues to clean up its loan portfolio.

Prosperity Bancshares is finding that its recent deals — which allowed the Houston company to expand in highly coveted businesses such as private banking and cards — are producing a nice boost to fee income.

The $902 million-asset company said Friday that it plans to shut down First Financial Diversified, which provides escrow services to First Financial and other customers.

Consolidation is needed to help the economy because there are too many banks, argues the author, a longtime bank investor. Many parties benefit from deals, and any return for the seller is better than producing poor results or being seized by regulators.

Bryn Mawr Bank (BMTC) in Pennsylvania and MidCoast Community Bancorp in Wilmington, Del., have terminated plans to merge.

Orient Bancorp in San Francisco named Richard Cupp, a well-known California banker and turnaround specialist, its permanent chief executive five weeks after he joined as interim CEO.

Customers Bancorp (CUBI) in Wyomissing, Pa., has opened a loan production office in North Philadelphia with the goal of providing affordable loans to lower-income minority communities.

Carver Bancorp (CARV) in New York reported its third consecutive quarter of profitability, reflecting lower expenses and higher income from asset sales.

Triumph Bancshares in Germantown, Tenn., has agreed to buy two mortgage businesses from Merchants & Planters Bancshares in Bolivar, Tenn.

As a good bank in a hard-hit state, Gulfstream Bancshares in Stuart, Fla., focused on getting in the best shape to be above reproach to potential buyers. The strategy worked, and its agreement to sell itself to CenterState could embolden others.

The $1.8 billion-asset company said late Thursday that Patrick Bevack, who is 67, will retire as president and CEO next year.

The Federal Reserve Board has taken action against ABCT Holdings in Waco, Tex. and terminated regulatory orders with two Minnesota lenders.

Fox Chase Bancorp (FXCB) in Hatboro, Pa., wants to discard its federal thrift charter.

JPMorgan Chase (JPM) is laying off roughly 600 mortgage banking employees in Colorado and South Carolina, according to local news reports.

TowneBank bought a minority stake in a security firm to help protect its commercial customers and boost revenue.

The Chevy Chase, Md., network completed two loans totaling $40 million that were secured by long-term care facilities in California and Ohio, BancAlliance said Thursday.

Buyers, sellers and shareholders rarely profit from bank acquisitions, the author argues. There are too many things that have to go right in the pricing and integration, and there is too much that can go wrong.