The vaguely defined term needs an overhaul to meet the financial demands of refugees and others long ignored by efforts to expand banking access.

BBCN Bancorp in Los Angeles has agreed to buy Wilshire Bancorp in Los Angeles.

There are no easy fixes to Nationstar's myriad problems — including a plunging stock price and increased regulatory scrutiny — but Chief Executive Jay Bray says the turnaround starts with a commitment to improving customer service.

Banks have a lot of work to do to modernize branches and keep their technology on par with other businesses' digital tools. Here are some ideas worth borrowing from retailers, restaurants and consumer electronics makers if banks haven't adopted them already, says appointment-software firm Financial Management Solutions.

The $641 million-asset mutual thrift promoted Scott Cote to chairman, according to a Friday news release.

The $3.2 billion-asset mutual thrift will close offices in Howland, Farmington, Hartland and East Millinocket, Maine. The proposed closings require regulatory approval.

California Bank & Trust in San Diego has given its chief financial officer the additional titles of president and chief operating officer.

The $2.5 billion-asset company will freeze pension benefits for the 10% of its workforce that still receive a pension.

First National Bank of Orwell in Vermont has named Bryan Young chief executive. Young, 38, will succeed his father, Mark Young, as CEO of the $56.1 million-asset bank beginning Jan. 1.

KeyCorp is partnering with fintech firms to offer innovative payments products to its commercial clients, as interest in payments technology begins to spill over from retail into commercial.

Banks face a growing risk of complacency given years of improved credit quality. They should periodically evaluate the status of loans and underlying collateral to make sure they proactively manage risk.

The $364 million-asset company named Steve Rownd to the positions, effective Jan. 1. Rownd will also be named president and CEO of FNB Bank.

The board of Pascack Bancorp in Waldrick, N.J., spent years debating whether to sell the company or remain independent.

Roy Barnes, a former Democratic governor of Georgia, and his brother have agreed to buy WestSide Bank in Hiram, Ga., for $3 million.

Legislative proposals to reform the housing finance system have failed to garner enough support, but a surprisingly simply reform idea is in plain sight: deeper private mortgage insurance coverage.

Attempts to sneak provisions into a final budget deal may be sold as helping community banks, but many of the measures really help big banks and undermine consumer protection.

Lake Sunapee Bank Group in Newport, N.H., has exited the Small Business Lending Fund.

The healthcare industry will be a target for data breaches next year because of the high value of medical records sold on the black market and the ongoing transition to electronic medical records, according to a new forecast.