The CenterState/First Southern in Florida deal shows how banks have to cut expenses, make acquisitions and then make more cuts to move ahead in the long run.

The prepaid card issuer Green Dot (GDOT) on Thursday reported a rise in revenue but a drop in earnings in the fourth quarter.

Sterling Financial (STSA) in Spokane, Wash., posted higher quarterly profit that was aided by recent acquisitions.

Valley National Bancorp (VLY) of Wayne, N.J., reported net income Thursday of $39.6 million for the fourth quarter, a 7.6% increase from a year earlier.

TFS Financial Corporation (TFSL) said Thursday that it earned of $16 million in the quarter that ended Dec. 31, an increase of 42.9% from the same period 2012.

In a long-awaited move that's expected to reduce origination costs and streamline lenders' processes, the Federal Housing Administration will immediately start accepting electronic signatures on all mortgage insurance endorsement and servicing documents, and will accept e-signatures on promissory notes beginning Dec. 31.

Without naming names, the CFPB said in a report released Thursday that, based on its examinations, servicers made borrowers jump through hoops to qualify for loan modifications and were lax about maintaining accurate records.

Thad Woodard is retiring as president and chief executive of the North Carolina Bankers Association.

First Citizens BancShares (FCNCA) in Raleigh, N.C., received an earnings boost from improved credit quality and a favorable adjustment to loss-share agreements with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.

Bank of the Ozarks (OZRK) of Little Rock, Ark., has agreed to buy Summit Bancorp in Arkadelphia, Ark.

As operating costs rise, a growing number of community banks are following the lead of larger rivals by shuttering branches, though analysts hope the pace of closures will accelerate.

Beneficial Mutual Bancorp (BNCL) reported lower net income that still managed to meet Wall Street expectations.

Lenders are loosening underwriting standards for nearly every type of credit except for some home equity lines, according to a report issued Thursday by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

Microsoft is scheduled to stop supporting Windows XP, the operating system inside most ATMs, on April 8. Diebold chief executive Andy Mattes weighs in on the impact to the industry.

The New York bank won $25,000 and two tickets to the big game being held nearby this Sunday because of its charity efforts -- and then donated it all to charity.

Central Pacific Financial (CPF) in Honolulu reported a big decline in fourth-quarter earnings as income from sales of residential mortgage loans and sales of foreclosed assets plunged.

First Interstate BancSystem (FIBK) in Billings, Mont., turned credit-quality improvements into a big increase in earnings last quarter.

Big banks have discovered that mobile banking is their best bet for combating deep consumer distrust and rampant turnover. Small banks can overcome their lock on mobile by playing up the strengths of their existing business model.

United Bankshares (UBSI) in Charleston, W.Va., saw earnings fall as fee income took a dive last quarter.

Amazon.com is developing a person-to-person payments system that would compete against the likes of PayPal, according to a job listing on the e-commerce company's website.