Debt-buying giant Portfolio Recovery Associates Inc. on Thursday announced the close of a $600 million credit facility to fund business operations and expansion.

Investors Bancorp of Short Hills, N.J., has agreed to buy Roma Financial Corp. of Robbinsville, N.J. The deal, scheduled to close in the second quarter, would bring together two mutual thrifts and create a company with assets of more than $13 billion.

Adding to a storehouse of capital and maintaining strong regulatory relationships are among the banking veteran's top priorities following a failed bid to sell his company in early 2012.

The bank is retrenching from some of the country's wealthiest suburbs, abandoning some of its years-long efforts to cultivate affluent customers.

Sierra Vista in Folsom, Calif., is the kind of bank typically marked for extinction. But it has raised enough equity to try to make itself into a buyer, or a more appealing takeover target.

Six months after settling a legal battle with Capital One, John Kanas is eager to start hiring employees and opening branches in the Big Apple.

A year ago we asked BankThink's regular contributors to make bold predictions about 2012. Here's a look back at their forecasts and the actual outcomes.

The company landed $85 million to fuel organic growth at a time when most banks are attracting large investments for acquisitions.

Michael Tierney's challenge next year at Flagstar Bancorp is twofold: find ways to go on the offensive while continuing to resolve lingering issues at the Michigan company.

Dan Bass has left FBR Capital Markets to establish an investment banking platform at Performance Trust Capital Partners.

Oneida Financial in New York is expanding its insurance business with its purchase of McMahon, Fenaroli and White, which operates Schenectady Insuring Agency in Schenectady.

Every banker is under scrutiny, but last year we pegged 10 executives as potential news makers for 2012. Some made big headlines; others seemed to get through the year without making much noise. Here is a recap.

Fulton Financial has agreed to sell a payments business to Canadian group.

Both community banks and large banks in Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey are reporting growth in profits for the third quarter as loan quality improved and nonperforming loans and chargeoffs dropped.

Hedge funds and private-equity firms are betting on delinquent home loans being sold by the FHA as the government agency accelerates debt sales to avert a bailout and stem foreclosures.

Armed with $350 million in capital and an expanded infrastructure, the CEO of National Bank in Colorado will be on the hunt for acquisitions in the new year.

First Bank & Trust in Brookings, S.D., has agreed to buy a prepaid card portfolio from Inter National Bank in McAllen, Texas. First Bank did not disclose the price it will pay for the $21 million portfolio.

A breakdown of M&A announcements in the financial services industry for the week ended December 15.

Daniel Cantara 3rd, an 11-year veteran of First Niagara, will oversee all parts of the Buffalo, N.Y., bank that deal directly with customers.

Arvest Bank, the nation's third-largest privately held bank, agreed to buy 29 branches from Bank of America (BAC).