Retail credit unions can improve their net worth only through retained earnings. That's made a stressful period for all financial institutions particularly challenging for this category. Let them raise capital.

Hancock Holding Company in Gulfport, Miss., has named Deborah Conrad, a veteran international banker, as manager of its new export-finance group.

John Marshall Bank in Reston, Va., has appointed Charles K. Collum, a former chairman of Virginia's oldest bank, Burke & Herbert Bank, to head a new loan office in Alexandria.

Royal Bank of Canada agreed to buy the Shoppers Optimum credit-card portfolio from Bank of America to extend its MasterCard offerings.

State attorneys general are pressing four regional banks — U.S. Bancorp, PNC, SunTrust and HSBC — to accept a settlement over botched foreclosures akin to a deal reached with big banks earlier this year.

The world's second-largest payments network has been "looking at the offer and reward space for a while," says chief product officer Tim Murphy.

SunTrust Banks (STI) unveiled several major balance-sheet moves Thursday, including the final disposition of its longtime holdings in Coca-Cola (KO) and a $375 million provision for mortgage-repurchase losses.

The Federal Reserve Board has terminated an enforcement order against Rosholt Bancorp in Wisconsin.

The American Bankers Association voted Thursday to create a SuperPAC for bankers — but it has an alternative structure from Friends of Traditional Banking, the only other banking SuperPAC.

Thomas Gilmartin, TriState Capital Bank's new market president in New York, wants to put together a team of veteran bankers who share his local expertise.

If President Obama wins reelection, Democrats are likely to stay on the defensive over Dodd-Frank while trying to grapple with the reform of Fannie and Freddie.

City National Bank & Trust in Lawton, Okla., is venturing outside of its home state by opening three branches inside Wal-Mart Supercenters in Kansas.

ServisFirst Bank has expanded into Mobile, Ala., after hiring Alex Arendall and Jay Weber as senior vice presidents.

The bank announced on Wednesday a new sponsorship deal with the Detroit Lions, part of its ongoing effort to raise its profile in the Wolverine State.

After Elizabeth Warren's fiery speech to the Democratic National Convention, there is talk that if she wins the Massachusetts Senate seat in November, she may be a contender for president in 2016.

Renasant in Tupelo, Miss., has filed a shelf registration that would allow it to raise up to $150 million.

The American Bankers Association released its official slate of candidates who are set to take office at the group's annual convention next month.

A return to looser Fannie and Freddie underwriting guidelines for homeowners refinancing outside of post-crisis programs will probably create lower returns on mortgage-backed securities than most investors expect.

A number of cities, faced with limited access to the bond market, are turning to banks for tax anticipation notes as an alternative funding source.

The Fed unveiled on Thursday a new publication and website aimed at community bankers, including a question and answer session with Chairman Ben Bernanke on the challenges facing smaller institutions.