Columbia Banking System (COLB) in Tacoma, Wash., reported higher quarterly earnings buoyed by last year's purchase of West Coast Bancorp in Lake Oswego, Ore.

Financial institutions that can figure out how to couple an efficient and optimized loan process with personalized service will win in the future.

Coinmkt, a digital currency exchange based in Los Angeles, has opened an account with E-Trade to allow users to deposit U.S. dollars into the exchange as wire transfers from U.S. bank accounts.

Barkocy, research director of Mendon Capital Advisors, salutes his mentors and confesses a soft spot for small banks as he prepares to wrap up a career that lasted nearly five decades.

PacWest Bancorp (PACW) of Los Angeles reported a steep decline in quarterly earnings after it took a large charge tied to stock awards.

National Penn Bancshares (NPBC) in Boyertown, Pa., will close nine branches as it looks to cut costs.

Alemany, who stepped down as head of RBS Citizens Financial Group in October, will serve as a director and audit committee member at business lender CIT Group.

Purchases of previously owned homes climbed in December for the first time in five months as job gains and healthier household balance sheets helped Americans adjust to higher mortgage rates.

Citigroup, which cut unwanted assets 25% last year, should no longer be expected to offer clients unlimited financial services, Chief Executive Officer Michael Corbat said.

BankUnited (BKU) in Miami Lakes, Fla., reported quarterly earnings that were in line with Wall Street expectations.

California's plan to halt payday loan services owned by Indian tribes was dealt a setback this week after a state appeals court ruled tribal sovereign immunity stands in the way.

Susquehanna Bancshares (SUSQ) in Lititz, Pa., reported a profit of $41.3 million in the fourth quarter, down 4.4% from a year earlier.

The latest Equifax National Consumer Credit Trends Report indicates that the automobile lending sector continues to thrive. The total number of new auto loans originated from January through October 2013 was 20.2 million, totaling $405.2 billion and representing the highest origination total for that time in eight years.

First Financial Bancorp (FFBC) in Cincinnati warned that it will take a hit to fourth-quarter earnings because of a $22.4 million valuation adjustment to its indemnification asset from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.

KeyCorp (KEY) in Cleveland reported higher fourth-quarter earnings from a year earlier after cutting expenses and booking more loans.

HomeTrust Bancshares (HTBI) in Asheville, N.C., has agreed to buy Jefferson Bancshares (JFBI) in Morristown, Tenn.

T-Mobile's bid to provide basic checking services to its mobile phone customers is the latest signal that banks are losing the low end of the consumer market.

East West Bancorp (EWBC) in Pasadena, Calif., reported improved quarterly results after credit costs declined.

Bank deposit advances, which strongly resemble payday loans, have been facing extinction since coming into the crosshairs of federal banking regulators.

The fallout from the recent Target and Neiman Marcus security breaches has led to a war of words between bankers and retailers.