Sandler O'Neill & Partners LP, the 24-year-old investment bank that focuses on financial clients, fired about 20 people in units including trading and deal advisory, said people with direct knowledge of the decisions.

Regulators currently entrusted with the task of policing Wall Street are facing a well-funded, well-connected and politically shrewd beast.

Julius Baer Group Ltd., the Swiss money manager established in 1890, agreed to pay about 860 million Swiss francs ($880 million) for Bank of America Corp.'s Merrill Lynch wealth management business outside the U.S.

SAGINAW, Mich. – United Financial CU is breaking ground next week on a 15,000-foot expansion of its offices.

BELLEVUE, Neb. -- SAC FCU broke ground last week on a $20 million, four-story headquarters it is building in Papillion just east of Shadow Lake Towne Center.

First Financial Northwest (FFNW), a company under fire from activist shareholders and regulators, will replace the chief executive of its banking unit next month and has made another important management change.

Bank of America's (BAC) vice chairman and a former chief financial officer will retire next month.

First National Community Bancorp (FNCB) has finally caught up on its financial reports for 2011 — now on to 2012.

Visa lost a lot of PIN debit business after new regulations took effect this year, but the payments network insists it has stanched the bleeding and its incentive programs will win back market share.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. will contribute about $1.2 billion to settle a price-fixing case brought by retailers over credit-card swipe fees.

Serial dealmaker Jay Sidhu is at it again, agreeing to buy the New York thrift CMS Bancorp for $20.8 million. Sidhu is paying a premium, an investor in both banks says, but Sidhu denies it.

As expiration dates near for FDIC loss-sharing agreements inked in 2008, more failed bank buyers are looking to unload loans before the coverage runs out. As a result, they face growing pressure to book new loans to replace the ones they are trying to run off.

Consumers' inner rock stars and accountants are at the heart of the mobile finance startup's business plan, Movenbank CEO Brett King says.

Loan demand is soft and competition for borrowers is intense, creating tension between building portfolios and sustaining yields. Some banks have posted leaps in volume just to tread water in profitability.

The Lansing, Mich., company has turned to court to try and recapitalize itself. The move would leave all existing stakeholders with a 53% equity stake in the company. Capitol, meanwhile, is still searching for an investor to take the other 47%.

FNBNY Bancorp has hired John F. Stewart, a former president of Citibank New York, as CEO of First National Bank of New York. Stella Mendes will be the bank's president.

Customers Bancorp in Wyomissing, Pa., struck its second deal in two months with an agreement to buy CMS Bancorp in White Plains, N.Y. Customers, led by Jay Sidhu, would expand its presence in Westchester County.

Julius Baer Group Ltd. (BAER), the Swiss money manager established in 1890, is nearing an agreement to acquire Bank of America Corp. (BAC)'s Merrill Lynch wealth management businesses outside the U.S., according to two people with knowledge of the matter.

Show consumers mobile channels are useful, accessible, secure, familiar and easy to use.

PENSACOLA, Fla. -- Navy FCU closed yesterday on its $3.6 million purchase of 240 acres adjacent to its 65-acre call center, clearing the way to add 700 new jobs and invest $6.5 million into the huge operation over the next several years.