WASHINGTON — Dean Schultz, the long-time head of the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco, is planning to retire next spring once his successor has been appointed, the bank said Friday.

Malvern Bancorp in Paoli, Pa., has entered into a formal written agreement with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

United Community Bancorp in Lawrenceburg, Ind., said on Friday that William Ritzmann has been appointed chairman of the company and its bank.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. has reached a settlement with former executives at the failed LandMark Bank of Florida.

First Financial Bancorp in Cincinnati has launched a new division to cater to the growing demand for specialty business banking and named Brad Ringwald the division's president.

The third quarter had fewer deals compared to the second quarter, but three fundamental attributes of normalized M&A appeared: bigger players, shorter regulatory approvals times and interest from more buyers.

Alternative lenders filling gaps left by banks continue to gain market share. TCP Capital's Raj Vig discusses the pressures in middle market lending, where looser terms are attracting regulators' attention.

The pace of home price appreciation has decelerated in recent months, but it will not result in another dip where price changes actually fall into negative territory, according to Wells Fargo Securities economists.

More than 1,000 people jailed in Spokane County, Wash. for failing to pay court-ordered fines in the past six years will benefit from a class-action lawsuit settlement valued at $350,000.

Three of the most powerful women in banking go beyond the balance sheet.

Defining your bank's limits on earnings and minimum capital requirements can help safeguard against the reckless pursuit of return on equity.

Thursday night's celebration of American Banker's Most Powerful Women in Banking turned into a call for action for companies to build a pipeline of female leaders. "If we stick to the current rate of turnover, it's going to take 75 years to reach parity," said outgoing HSBC USA chief Irene Dorner.

First Commonwealth Financial in Indiana, Pa., has acquired Thompson/McLay Insurance Associates.

Complete Financial Solutions in Spokane, Wash., has agreed to buy Northern Star Financial in Mankato, Minn.

The head of Key's charitable foundation is lauded at American Banker's Most Powerful Women in Banking Gala for her role in improving educational opportunities for low-income and minority students in Cleveland.

Kyle Waters and Andy Bower announced the creation of Loan Evaluation Services this week. The firm will provide independent loan portfolio reviews for community and regional banks that are planning to make acquisitions or have a need for third-party loan portfolio reviews.

Independent originators could be shut out from offering this product as there is no secondary market.

The Federal Reserve Board has published an 11-page guide for banks looking to acquire large rivals.

Smaller institutions are likely to report stable net interest margins, even as competition for the best credits remains fierce. Loan volume could suffer from a seasonal slowdown, while investors would be keen to track commentary on loan structure.

A Citigroup subsidiary has agreed to refund nearly $16 million to 31,234 customers who were said to have been charged higher investment advisory fees than promised.