Deal activity was hottest in the Southeast and Midwest, Stifel and KBW moved up in the advisory rankings after combining forces and a BankThink point-counterpoint addresses the taboo subject of whether bank mergers are worth doing.

Jacksonville Bancorp (JAXB) in Florida recorded its second straight quarterly profit as it continues to clean up its loan portfolio.

Prosperity Bancshares is finding that its recent deals — which allowed the Houston company to expand in highly coveted businesses such as private banking and cards — are producing a nice boost to fee income.

The $902 million-asset company said Friday that it plans to shut down First Financial Diversified, which provides escrow services to First Financial and other customers.

Consolidation is needed to help the economy because there are too many banks, argues the author, a longtime bank investor. Many parties benefit from deals, and any return for the seller is better than producing poor results or being seized by regulators.

As the pace of the GSE reform efforts appears to be quickening, we offer the following frequently asked questions about what the Obama administration wants, widening Democratic support for a bill, and when GSE reform is likely to happen.

Bryn Mawr Bank (BMTC) in Pennsylvania and MidCoast Community Bancorp in Wilmington, Del., have terminated plans to merge.

Orient Bancorp in San Francisco named Richard Cupp, a well-known California banker and turnaround specialist, its permanent chief executive five weeks after he joined as interim CEO.

Customers Bancorp (CUBI) in Wyomissing, Pa., has opened a loan production office in North Philadelphia with the goal of providing affordable loans to lower-income minority communities.

Carver Bancorp (CARV) in New York reported its third consecutive quarter of profitability, reflecting lower expenses and higher income from asset sales.

Triumph Bancshares in Germantown, Tenn., has agreed to buy two mortgage businesses from Merchants & Planters Bancshares in Bolivar, Tenn.

Its landing page should make it easy for prospective customers to see where to sign up for an account, research interest rates and apply for a loan or credit card.

Wells Fargo must face lawsuits by home loan borrowers over claims the bank refused to offer them permanent mortgage modifications for which they assert they qualified, a U.S. appeals court ruled.

COLONIE, N.Y. – CapCom FCU began construction on a new three-story, 118,400-square-foot home in this Albany suburb yesterday.

As a good bank in a hard-hit state, Gulfstream Bancshares in Stuart, Fla., focused on getting in the best shape to be above reproach to potential buyers. The strategy worked, and its agreement to sell itself to CenterState could embolden others.

The $1.8 billion-asset company said late Thursday that Patrick Bevack, who is 67, will retire as president and CEO next year.

Regulators are examining loans originated by National City, which PNC bought in 2008, suggesting they might have been priced to have a "disparate impact" on minority borrowers.

Green Dot is elbowing into a corner of the prepaid card market that rival NetSpend has long dominated.

The Federal Reserve Board has taken action against ABCT Holdings in Waco, Tex. and terminated regulatory orders with two Minnesota lenders.

ATM operators have a lot at stake in the fallout of a federal judge's ruling last week that the Federal Reserve Board needs to review the debit fee caps and network routing mandates set under the Durbin amendment.