Consumers increasingly fell behind on their payments in several loan categories in the third quarter as economic growth cooled.

Raising capital has been tough for community banks ever since the financial crisis, especially the smallest ones. But a few firms have developed structured products that offer banks a chance to band together to raise needed Tier 1 capital at relatively low cost, while avoiding the regulatory ire that befell trust-preferred securities.

Fundation Group, an online small-business lender, has hired an industry veteran as its first chief operating officer.

Old Fort Banking in Tiffin, Ohio, has sold a controlling interest to its employees. The Old Fort Employees Stock Ownership and 401(k) plan bought a 45% stake in Gillmor Financial Services, the holding company for the $471 million-asset Old Fort.

Following a new blueprint, card issuers are seeing returns on assets above 4% for the first time since before the financial crisis. How long the good times last will depend partly on how well the U.S. economy weathers turmoil in China and other markets.

DNB Financial in Downingtown, Pa., said its chairman and chief executive, William Latoff, has died. He was 67.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. is using outdated methodologies to define "brokered deposits," stigmatizing stable sources of funding and forcing banks to pay higher premiums, according to bankers and several outside groups.

The rule, set for 2018 implementation, would force companies to record gains and losses from equity investments on their income statements. That should create volatility for 50 to 70 institutions, mostly mutuals, that have such investments.

A fintech startup is hoping that a pop-up branch approach will inspire consumers to replace check-cashing services and checking accounts with a mobile app that connects to a prepaid account.

A municipal tax collection agency in Ohio has confirmed it lost personal data for an estimated 50,000 people who filed tax forms with the agency.

Eagle Bancorp in Bethesda, Md., has hired four bankers to a develop a business line making Federal Housing Administration-insured loans for multifamily rental properties.

Opus Bank in Irvine, Calif., will cut about 10% of its workforce and cancel contracts for redundant systems and services.

David Bowie was a legend in the music industry, but his name was also a presence in financial services, where his identity was synonymous with innovation.

Associated Banc-Corp in Green Bay, Wis., will increase its fourth-quarter allowance for loan losses by $13 million to compensate for potential late payments or defaults on loans in its energy portfolio.

Implementing discrete changes to a core system to compete with disruptors is merely dressing up an arsenal that really should be replaced or overhauled.

Overall consumer borrowing grew from October to November but decelerated to the slowest pace since January as Americans took out fewer loans for big-ticket items such as cars and education.

As far as digital currency has come, the passing of bitcoin for purchases is still a relatively primitive transaction.

M&A momentum is building, even among larger banks that have been sidelined for years.

Merchants Bancshares in South Burlington, Vt., has named an interim principal financial officer after its chief financial officer resigned.

Live Oak Bancshares in Wilmington, N.C., one of the largest 7(a) program lenders in the U.S. last year, has promoted Greg Thompson to chief operating officer.