Simmons First (SFNC) in Pine Bluff, Ark., has agreed to buy Delta Trust & Banking in Little Rock, Ark.

First Financial Bancorp (FFBC) in Cincinnati has promoted Brad Ringwald to president of corporate banking. Ringwald joined First Financial in 2006 and has been the president of its specialty finance group since the unit was established three years ago.

U.S. News & World Report published a commentary piece on debt collection practices on Monday. Perhaps not surprisingly, the article does not cast the industry in a favorable light.

Noah Hanft, MasterCard's general counsel and chief franchise officer, is leaving the financial industry (mostly) behind for a gig as the head of the International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution.

Solera National Bancorp (SLRK) is being challenged by a former director who wants to wrest control of the Lakewood, Colo., company's board.

Federal banking regulators issued a proposal that would establish standards for states that register and track appraisal management companies.

Xenith Bankshares (XBXS) had been eager to enter the bustling Hampton Roads area. It plans to use Colonial Virginia, located close to the region, to make a beachhead.

Tera Group Inc. created a legal framework for Bitcoin swaps, which would let investors trade payments based on how the virtual currency performs against a real one.

Higher rates, mounting costs and the opportunity to lend to underserved borrowers have pushed some residential lenders to lower their minimum FICO scores, despite broader reluctance to take more risk in a heavily regulated market.

Central Pacific Financial (CPF) in Honolulu will repurchase $125 million of common stock.

FFW Corp. in Wabash, Ind., has a $2.6 million loan chargeoff recovery.

Farmers Capital Bank (FFKT) in Frankfort, Ky., has received regulatory approval to repurchase some of its preferred stock.

Complaints against debt collectors filed with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau dropped in February compared to January, a decline that mirrors the drop for complaint filings across all categories.

The dismantling of state agencies that funded affordable housing had upended nonprofit development in California.

More consumers are getting free access to credit scores through card companies.

JPMorgan Chase's weak forecast for the mortgage business surprises lenders.

What's up with New York's program to add branches in low-income areas?

Beware of customer profiling run amok, says Meridith Elliott Powell.

Commercial real estate's comeback is happening unevenly, with the recovery strongest for big banks and big cities.

There's drama to come as regulators finalize a proposal requiring banks to self-assess their track records on diversity.