Corporate governance

The Arkansas bank is turning to asset-based lending and loans to venture capital and other investment groups to help fill a void created by a shortage of new, big-ticket commercial real estate deals.

Mike Daniels has been president and CEO of Nicolet's bank since 2015.

The Dallas company will pay nearly $54 million for a 49% stake in a lender that operates in 10 states.

The $56 million acquisition will extend Southern California Bancorp's footprint north of Los Angeles.

Profits slumped last year and many investors are now voicing their displeasure with the compensation awarded to senior leaders. A nonbinding “say on pay” vote taken Tuesday passed narrowly, but Chairman Charles Noski indicated that the board will take the results into account when designing future pay packages.

Citigroup said a full review conducted after the lender mistakenly sent $900 million to a group of investment firms concluded the bank didn’t need to claw back any pay from executives.

The Missouri company announced the deal just five months after buying Seacoast Commerce in San Diego.

The merger would create a company with nearly 400 branches, 87 loan production offices and $87 billion of assets.

The proposed acquisition is the second deal in as two days to involve an Atlanta-based seller.

The Illinois companies agreed to merge in a transaction that is expected to close later this year.

Regulators recently eased field-of-membership rules to promote growth of federal credit unions. A handful of institutions are taking advantage of the changes to recruit more members, but some may find the process too cumbersome.

The Georgia company agreed to pay $84 million for a bank with nine branches and $715 million of assets.

The deal would be Independent's sixth since 2015 and would continue a wave of consolidation among Boston-area banks.

Under the leadership of former Chief Risk Officer John D'Angelo, the new environmental, social and governance office will oversee the bank's sustainability and corporate social responsibility functions.

The Maryland company is closer to addressing claims it lacked sufficient controls under its previous management.

Clarity on credit quality has bankers ready to strike deals after a lengthy pause. A steady rise in stock prices has also given potential buyers the financial wherewithal to pursue acquisitions.

Cal Poly Federal Credit Union's recent merger into SchoolsFirst highlights the difficult choice many small institutions face: diversify your field of membership or risk going out of business.

Burns & McDonnell Credit Union holds just $27 million of assets and is seeking approval to merge into CommunityAmerica, which serves the KC metro region and is the largest credit union in Kansas and Missouri.

The Ohio company has opened just 32 of 120 new branches it plans in the region by 2022, but those offices are making a sizable contribution to growth.

The company plans to shutter five locations, or roughly 12% of its network, next month.