As with housing, different bank markets across the country have crashed and recovered at different speeds. Measured by institutions with high Texas ratios, stress has tapered quickly in states like Washington and California, but remains elevated in Georgia, Illinois and Florida.

American Banker readers share their views on the most pressing banking topics of the week. As excerpted from the Comments sections of AmericanBanker.com articles.

Residential Capital LLC rejected an offer from Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK/A), the holding company run by billionaire Warren Buffett, to be the initial bidder in proposed auctions of ResCap’s most valuable assets.

A Dallas-area investment group has applied to become a bank holding company so it could acquire a small bank outside of Austin.

Community bank Investors Bancorp Inc. agreed to acquire Piraeus Bank S.A.'s Marathon Banking Corp. unit for $135 million in cash, a move that doubles its presence in New York.

More banks may decide to sell if they conclude Congress will not renew the capital gains tax cut, Deloitte's Sharon Weinstein says.

A planned merger between two southern California banks has yet to close a year after the deal was announced because regulators have yet to approve it.

The more than $500 million that investors pumped into banks in the Tar Heel State has turned marginal players into consolidators, provided a way to absorb failures and instilled new discipline.

A half billion dollars in PE funding has breathed life into North Carolina banking, raising questions about whether community bankers nationwide should be teaming up with Mitt Romney's old industry.

Crestmark Bancorp of Troy, Mich., has purchased the working capital loan portfolio from First Citizens Bank and has entered into partnership with the Raleigh, N.C., company.

In what would be its first acquisition since its founding in 2007, fast-growing First Virginia Community Bank has agreed to buy 1st Commonwealth Bank of Virginia.

A fight between ECB Bancorp in North Carolina and the Gibbs family foreshadows clashes at many community banks between today's managers and ownership interests from yesteryear.

Sallie Mae has introduced new rewards for its relaunched Upromise World Mastercard, which is now issued by Barclaycard US.

A shareholder group that includes a former ECB director has urged directors of the Engelhard, N.C., company to remove Dwight Utz as president and chief executive.

Regions Financial (RF) in Birmingham continues to beef up its specialty lending capabilities, announcing Tuesday that it has hired three bankers to join its restaurant, healthcare and technology and defense banking groups.

Most of us buy into the thinking that the slow pace of bank M&A is a bad thing. But, unless you are an investment banker or a lawyer who advises on deals, there are a lot of benefits to measured consolidation, some industry observers say.

KeyCorp (KEY) Chairman and Chief Executive Beth Mooney is not swearing off acquisitions, but she made clear Tuesday that they remain low on her list of priorities.

The final price Grandpoint Capital would pay for National Bank of California depends on the seller's loan losses, expenses over two years and other contingencies.

Warren Buffett likes community newspapers and he likes big banks. So, why not community banks, too? Analysts discuss the pros and cons of Berkshire Hathaway investing in community banks.

Grandpoint Capital announced late Monday that it is buying NCAL Bancorp, the holding company for the National Bank of California, a $341 million-asset bank with five branches in southern California.