Banks are increasing their research and monitoring of third parties as regulators take a closer look at outsourcing.

Many regional banks are too small to face the most onerous capital requirements yet big enough to grapple with the growing mountain of regulations. That, and some deft positioning, has left the group more profitable than its larger and smaller brethren alike. American Banker editors discuss the success of the regionals and the challenges they face.

Regulators have ordered Germany's Nordbank to improve anti-money-laundering safeguards at its New York branch.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau announced four enforcement actions Thursday against mortgage insurers, ordering them to pay $15 million in penalties and stop "improper kickbacks" to mortgage lenders in exchange for business.

FHFA's decision to sell foreclosures in bulk is hindering the rising Hispanic consumer segment, along with other first-time buyers, from driving a healthy housing rebound.

HopFed Bancorp in Hopkinsville, Ky., has drawn the ire of activist investor Joseph Stilwell over its recent agreement to buy another bank.

Intrust Bank in Wichita, Kan., has promoted its longtime chief operating officer to become its president.

Alliance Bank & Trust in Gastonia, N.C., has a new chief executive.

Jerry Craft, head of Corserv Solutions in Atlanta, says he has solved a longtime credit card dilemma for community banks.

The $3.8 billion-asset Provident said Thursday it would pay $344 million in stock for Sterling, or about 1.3 shares of Provident stock for each Sterling share.

Recent enforcement actions indicate banks must get better at evaluating the risks associated with their third-party service providers.

Atlantic Coast Financial in Jacksonville expected disgruntled shareholder Jay Sidhu to blast its deal to sell itself to Bond Street Holdings — and he came through.

The independent foreclosure review process was disorganized, ineffective and inconsistent, according to a draft report by the Government Accountability Office.

JPMorgan Chase (JPM), the biggest U.S. bank, defeated most of a lawsuit brought by Dexia over about $1.6 billion in mortgage-backed securities it bought before the financial crisis.

Shareholders will vote on a proposal to rename it CommunityOne Bancorp at their annual meeting on June 20, FNB United said Wednesday. Its board has already approved the change.

New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares (NHTB) in Newport has agreed to buy Central Financial Corp. (CEVT) in Randolph, Vt.

The plan, which was first reported by the Washington Post, sounds similar to a framework the Federal Housing Finance Agency unveiled in September to help alleviate mortgage lenders' concerns about exposure to bad loans.

Shares of Independent Bank Group (IBTX) in McKinney, Texas, rose nearly 13% during their first day of trading.

Community Bank System (CBU) in DeWitt, N.Y., is asking shareholders for authorization to issue more common stock.

The Federal Reserve Board approved a rule Wednesday that outlines the criteria regulators will use to determine if a nonbank is systemically important.