The regulatory environment for small deals is improving as regulators see how consolidation can help move the industry further away from the crisis, says Jimmy Dunne, senior managing principal of Sandler O'Neill.

Technology companies are wooing customers away from traditional financial institutions. If banks want to address this threat, they need to rethink their business models and stop chasing profits at all costs.

Sierra Vista Bank in Folsom, Calif., has named a new chairman.

Diebold has introduced antimicrobial touchscreens to its automated teller machines.

Chemical Financial in Midland, Mich., has agreed to buy Lake Michigan Financial in Holland.

Smaller banks are eager to launch new businesses to increase noninterest income. But a new survey indicates that many are struggling to generate returns from such endeavors.

Federal Savings Bank in Chicago has agreed to buy Baytree National Bank & Trust in Lake Forest, Ill.

Last year started with a failed stress test and ended with the bank under scrutiny for everything from its capital management to its subprime auto lending policies. But regaining the confidence of regulators is only half the battle; Santander must also figure out how to regain market share it’s been losing to competitors.

The Federal Reserve Board reappointed O.B. Grayson Hall Jr., chairman and chief executive at Regions Financial, to its Federal Advisory Council.

The Wisconsin Bankers Association has agreed to merge with the Community Bankers of Wisconsin.

With Republicans now controlling both chambers of Congress and signals from Democrats that they are open to alterations, revisions to Dodd-Frank are at the top of the agenda in addition to other subjects, like terrorism insurance and housing finance reform.

Moven has modified its personal financial management app to work on a smartwatch. Will millennials be more likely to heed spending advice delivered to their wrists rather than their phones?

National Credit Adjusters LLC, a payday loan company recently targeted in a Pennsylvania enforcement action, agreed Monday to pay nearly $1 million in restitution to New York City residents and stop collecting debts in the city.

Small business borrowers owing money to the Boston Redevelopment Authority's small-business lending arm did not receive regular collection letters even as hundreds of thousands of dollars in taxpayer-financed loans went unpaid, an audit by a federal agency revealed.

Guaranty Bancshares in Mount Pleasant, Texas, has agreed to buy Texas Leadership Bank in Royse City.

Progreso Financiero, a nonbank lender that targets Latino consumers, plans to change its name to Oportun.

Many observers agree that one of the most significant rulemakings slated for this year from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau will be on debt collection. Depending on how it structures its proposal, the plan could capture a broad range of companies that have a hand in the credit reporting system.

SunTrust Banks will provision $145 million in its fourth-quarter results for legal expenses related to previously disclosed mortgage issues, the company said in a regulatory filing Monday.

The number of mutuals is shrinking, but those committed to the charter still have options. Attorney Kip Weissman of Luse Gorman discusses the possibilities of charter conversions for those looking to throw in the towel and potential regulatory moves that could help the ailing charter class.

Credit Karma, a credit management website, last week started offering on-demand access to credit reports from Equifax. It's the second credit report Credit Karma users can view as much as they like.