Bank of the West said Monday it will continue to offer interest-only mortgages to borrowers even though such loans are excluded from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's qualified mortgage rule that goes into effect Jan. 10.

First Financial Bancorp (FFBC) in Cincinnati is entering the Fort Wayne, Ind., market with the establishment of commercial and residential mortgage teams there.

Susquehanna Bancshares (SUSQ) in Lititz, Pa., has hired Kevin Burns as chief risk officer and executive vice president.

Macatawa Bank (MCBC) in Holland, Mich., has exchanged all of its outstanding preferred stock for common stock and cash to simplify its capital structure and direct dividends to investors.

Pulaski Financial (PULB) in St. Louis has appointed two executives to lead its mortgage division.

JPMorgan Chase (JPM) will pay $2 billion in penalties to settle charges that it ignored warning signs of the Bernard Madoff Ponzi scheme, according to multiple news reports.

American Express Co. and Discover Financial Services are among financial firms more at risk of losing customer deposits than traditional banks as interest rates rise, according to Fitch Ratings.

The second half of December is generally a slow period for news, with many people on vacation and businesses and government closed on holidays. Still, banks made a number of significant announcements this holiday season. In many cases the timing of disclosures may have been driven by circumstance - regulators appeared eager to wrap up settlements by yearend.

JPMorgan Chase agreed to settle a lawsuit brought by the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh after a judge ordered the JPMorgan to turn over the government's draft complaint at the center of its $13 billion deal with regulators.

The $2 billion-asset company is moving the headquarters of its mortgage banking and wealth management businesses to the Greater Richmond area, according to a Friday press release.

Kevin Miller resigned on Friday, effective immediately, the $839 million-asset company said in a regulatory filing.

Wells Fargo and U.S. Bank are among the institutions still offering the controversial loan product in the face of tough guidance that took effect in November.

Severn Bancorp (SVBI) in Annapolis, Md., will take a $4 million pretax charge in the fourth quarter after selling troubled loans.

State Bank Financial in Atlanta was able to fund an unexpected app for commercial clients because it took a fluid approach to budgeting. Other banks should take note of this approach.

CNB Financial (CCNE) in Clearfield, Pa., plans to sell up to $75 million in preferred and common stock.

Investors Bancorp (ISBC) in Short Hills, N.J., is set to complete its purchase of Gateway Community Financial in Sewell, N.J., next week.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Advanced Micro Devices Inc. and other companies have seen more than $200 million in sales in 2013 for computing components used to create Bitcoins, Wedbush Securities Inc. said.

Mackinac Financial (MFNC) in Manistique, Mich., has completed the redemption of stock originally issued to the Treasury Department under the Troubled Asset Relief Program.

Can the banking industry at least cool it with the footnotes?

J. Thomas May still believes community banks can thrive but executives must find new ways to engage customers, control costs and build scale.