Meridian Bancorp (EBSB) in Peabody, Mass., has launched a common stock offering as the newly created holding company for East Boston Savings Bank.

A bill to improve access to credit and qualified mortgages for low and moderate income borrowers, while protecting consumers from bad loans, passed Monday in the U.S. House.

Bank of America (BAC) has agreed to sell 17 branches in North Carolina and Virginia with a total of $944 million in deposits to First Community Bank in Bluefield, Va., and HomeTrust Bancshares (HTBI) in Asheville, N.C.

Riverland Bancorp. in Jordan, Minn., has raised roughly $1.3 million by selling common stock.

Eagle Bancorp (EGBN) in Bethesda, Md., has agreed to buy Virginia Heritage Bank (VGBK) in Tysons Corner, Va.

Signature Bank (SBNY) in New York plans to sell 2.1 million new shares of common stock.

National Bank of Commerce in Birmingham, Ala., is beefing up in Florida with a deal to buy United Group Banking Company of Florida in Longwood.

First Federal of Northern Michigan Bancorp's agreement to buy Alpena Banking is a lesson in persistence and keeping communication lines open.

A breakdown of M&A announcements in the financial services industry for the week ended May 31.

The multi-bank holding company has historically taken a hyperlocal approach in the suburbs with individually branded banks. As it moves deeper into the heart of Chicago, the company is unifying a dozen branches under its Wintrust brand.

President Obama on Monday proposed two plans designed to ease the burden of student loan debt for potentially millions of Americans.

The housing market is unseasonably weak due to consumers' worries about an economic slowdown and a decline in overall household income, according to a Fannie Mae survey.

Demand for credit in Western Canada has increased for four consecutive quarters, while activity in the Eastern provinces continues to slow, according to Equifax Canada's Q1 National Consumer Credit Trends Report.

Community banks can still generate solid returns and take on larger competitors. The ones that shutter are those that have failed to modernize and adapt to the changing times.

Financial Services Roundtable CEO Tim Pawlenty discusses the after-effects of Dodd-Frank, the need to find regulatory balance between providing protection and hindering economic activity, concerns over the Johnson-Crapo GSE reform proposal, and more.

A Southern Illinois town has hired a third-party collection agency to pursue unpaid city fees and fines ranging from criminal offenses to traffic offenses.

While lenders do not ask consumers about sexual orientation, a look at Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data on same-sex couple applicants raises questions about possible discrimination against gays and lesbians.

Doral Financial's (DRL) dispute with the Puerto Rican government over a tax refund will be heard on an expedited basis by the territory's courts.

Wintrust Financial (WTFC) of Rosemont, Ill., is planning to raise capital by issuing subordinated debt.

LOS ANGELES — Moneyworks, a startup that's preparing to roll out its personal financial management app, took home the $10,000 prize in a financial innovation contest Friday.