The deal for SimplyBank, scheduled to be completed in the second quarter, would give First Financial in Terre Haute, Indiana, additional branches in Tennessee and its first presence in Georgia.

The future of financial services lies in collaboration between big banks and fintech, not conflict.

Bankers should stop thinking of small companies as difficult to serve, Comerica's Brian Haney says; "How does succeeding in small business make the retail bank stronger?"

The bank was recently sued by customers who say they were misled into thinking that their savings accounts were earning competitive rates. Capital One responded with a series of arguments for why the case should be thrown out.

A recent effort by Citigroup to nudge certain customers toward digital-only statements was well intended but too punitive, observers say. The key, they argue, for banks seeking to cut costs or achieve other goals is to offer incentives to those with ingrained habits.

In addition to expense-reduction measures, the Wisconsin-based regional bank is selling almost $2 billion of mortgages and securities and will invest in its lending and deposit-gathering capabilities.

Los Angeles-based Lendistry — in less than two years — became the largest Black-run 7(a) lender. Its CEO credits a concerted effort by the Small Business Administration to reach out to minority lenders and businesses, whose participation in the lending program is growing.

The bank has seen its balance sheet swell in recent years and this quarter could become the first U.S. bank to reach the $4 trillion mark. Analysts credit it as a well-run institution, but the megabank's growth is sure to play into ongoing debates over big-bank capital rules and "too big to fail."

The company missed revenue projections, and it's trying to tap other funding strategies amid a "difficult lending environment."

Proceeds from the sale provide the bank with "flexibility to evaluate and pursue various strategic initiatives to redeploy capital in support of our core banking business," Evans CEO David Nasca said.