Lawmakers have set $10 billion in assets as a dividing line between small and large banks for regulatory purposes. That's left bankers at Trustmark's Gerard Host and other institutions that are approaching the cutoff with a choice: Deliberately limit their size or pursue acquisitions to solidly cross the threshold.

The smattering of data showing an upsurge in lending activity now includes the statistical reporting required under the Community Reinvestment Act.

National Penn Bancshares in Boyertown, Pa., has completed restructuring $400 million of fixed-rate borrowings with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh to reduce interest expense and expand its net interest margin.

Money funds and non-deposit-taking consumer lenders should be chartered as limited purpose banks by the Fed and CFPB, respectively. This will reduce systemic risk, improve consistency and efficiency, and protect consumers.

Four years after filing the largest bankruptcy in U.S. history amid soured real estate bets, Lehman Brothers is still in the property business, wagering it can recover about $12.9 billion from mortgages and assets around the globe.

Six North Carolina businessmen and banking veterans made up the group that raised $13 million to buy First Carolina State Bank in Rocky Mount, N.C., from Capitol Bancorp (CRBC).

A personal touch can help a bank stand out, but providing great service is a challenge in our increasingly digital society. How do you develop meaningful (and lasting) relationships with your customers?

In its ongoing effort to distinguish itself as a specialty lender, the Jacksonville, Fla., company announced Monday that it has established a golf lending division and that it has hired a team of lenders away from TCF Financial (TCB) to run it.

Citigroup Inc. named Vikram Bhardwaj as Asia-Pacific head of consumer investment banking, according to a memo obtained by Bloomberg News.

Wells Fargo is expanding loans to customers of General Motors, threatening to take business from Ally Financial as the bailed-out auto lender seeks a turnaround.

Almost two-thirds of small businesses in the Federal Reserve Bank of New York's region that sought credit received some form of financing, according to a poll conducted by the bank during the second quarter.

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Alliance Data Systems (ADS) has signed a long-term agreement to provide private-label credit card services for retailer Stage Stores (SSI).

This year's drought could cause many farmers to default on ag loans, particularly those tied to livestock. For banks with high concentrations of ag loans, the drought poses the first major credit challenge since the financial crisis.

GE Capital Retail Bank has reached a long-term agreement with Wal-Mart Stores' (WMT) Sam's Club to continue providing the credit card program to the Sam's Club's Advantage and Business members.

Ginnie Mae is considering raising minimum net-worth requirements for issuers of its mortgage-backed securities after being deluged with applications from small mortgage banks. Disruptions in the mortgage market prompted the rush.

General Motors Co. (GM), the largest U.S. automaker, said its lending arm made a bid in July for Ally Financial Inc. (ALLY)'s international operations, which, if successful, could more than double GM Financial Co.'s consolidated assets.

A key long-term certificate-of-deposit rate has reached a historic low after falling below 1%.

Two banks that are majority-owned by Piedmont Community Bank Holdings in Raleigh, N.C., have agreed to merge.

Kevin McCarty, the insurance commissioner of Florida who recently started investigating the force-placed insurance market, vividly recounts his fight to correct an error that, he says, led to forced coverage on his condo several years ago.