Debt buyer Portfolio Recovery Associates (PRA) Inc., based in Norfolk, Va., has been named one of Fortune's 100 Fastest-Growing Companies for 2012.

Royal Bank of Canada, the country's largest lender by assets, agreed to buy the Shoppers Optimum credit-card portfolio from Bank of America Corp. to extend its MasterCard Inc. offerings.

Ralph Babb, the chief executive of Comerica in Dallas, tells a research analyst the company may consider in-market and out-of-market deals — its first since taking over Sterling Bancshares last year.

M&T's bid for Hudson City has the deal world abuzz with talk of who'll be next. The Fed, meanwhile, is trying to calm angry community bankers as the entire industry mulls the implications of the November election.

Debt buyer Encore Capital Group announced that Sheryl Wright has joined the company as senior vice president of External Affairs.

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

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.

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

Memorial City Bank is canvassing Houston for acquisition targets, capital and commercial loans.

BMO Harris Bank in Chicago is opening a corporate banking office in Atlanta as part of its expansion outside the Midwest.

The San Francisco bank and Riverwoods, Ill., credit card company could "marry their existing attributes, by both building upon existing strengths while solving each side's challenges," it argues.

Leveraged loans arranged by banks set a record in August, and issues of collateralized loan obligations are now on pace to hit $30 billion this year.

The ATM manufacturer hopes the acquisition of Gas Tecnologia will bolster its presence in Brazil.

ING will sell a stake of more than 9% in Capital One that the biggest Dutch financial-services firm acquired in the sale of its U.S. online bank this year.

A breakdown of M&A announcements in the financial services industry for the week ended September 1.

Astoria Financial, Texas Capital Bancshares and three other large community banks look more vulnerable to buyout efforts after M&T's agreement to buy Hudson City.

Walter Investment Management (WAC) in Tampa, Fla. said Tuesday that it is acquiring Reverse Mortgage Solutions for $120 million.

Bank of Commerce of Redding, Calif., is selling its majority stake in a mortgage lending company, a move some industry observers say makes sense given a challenging regulatory environment.

Financial institutions with a long-term strategic interest in the credit card business should reap the benefits of the existing safe harbor and buy while it lasts. Those who don't should take advantage of the current environment and sell.

Banco Santander SA, Spain's largest bank, filed to raise as much as $3 billion in a U.S. initial public offering of its Mexican unit.