A breakdown of M&A announcements for the latest week

In what would be its latest asset purchase from a European bank, Wells Fargo & Co. announced after markets closed Tuesday that it is acquiring BNP Paribas' North American energy-lending business in all-cash deal.

The growth-hungry Opus Bank in Irvine, Calif., is making good on its plans to grow organically alongside acquisitions.

Warburg Pincus, which has invested in three banks, employed a different strategy than many of its rivals that bought into financial institutions, managing director Daniel Zilberman explains. And it has the strategy for its next round of deals ready to go.

KBW report says Wells would be the frontrunner for Ally's profitable auto financing division, which could fetch as much as $68 billion in a sale.

Alliance Data Systems Corp. has renewed an agreement to provide private-label credit card services to clothing retailer The Buckle Inc.

First Niagara Financial Group Inc. in Buffalo is planning to open at least five new branches in Connecticut this year to go along with the six it is acquiring in the state from HSBC Bank USA.

Merger and acquisition activity by Chinese firms is likely to be heavily focused at home over the next year, but the slowly expanding presence of Chinese firms overseas offers big opportunities for foreign banks active in China, said Huang Xiaoguang, president of Bank of America's China arm.

NCO Group Inc., a Horsham, Pa.-based accounts receivable management company, announced plans Monday to hire an estimated 300 employees for its Customer Contact Center in St. Joseph, Mo., additions that coincide with client expansion opportunities for two Fortune 500 clients in the telecommunications and financial services industries, according to NCO officials.

KENOSHA, Wis. — NCUA and state credit union regulators took over A M Community CU, a troubled one-time $135 million credit union that serves Chrysler workers and the surrounding community, after the close of business Friday evening.

Two private equity investors have agreed to buy TransUnion Corp.

Although the Federal Reserve Board ultimately signed off on Capital One Financial Corp.'s deal to buy ING Direct USA, the grueling 9-month long process to get there is a warning to other large would-be acquirers.

First Niagara Financial Group Inc. expects to close 35 branches after it completes its acquisition of HSBC Holdings Plc's branches in mid-May.

Two private equity investors have agreed to buy TransUnion.

The Florida company is looking at bringing in capital in case the sale of its thrift fails to go through by early April.

Blue-collar M&T bought blue-blood Wilmington Trust last spring and won't finish absorbing it until June. Executives insist M&T's uncharacteristically slow approach to integration will pay off.

Bank of America would consider selling its retail-branch network in Texas and its U.S. Trust unit if the giant bank is forced to raise capital in a market shock or severe economic downturn, according to a document provided to U.S. regulators.

BNCCorp Inc.'s shares plunged Thursday after the Bismarck, N.D., company announced a private placement at a highly discounted price.

CIFC Corp. and Sandler O'Neill pitch community and midsize banks on participation in syndicated C&I loan deals — a market normally dominated by the biggest banks.

Premier Financial Bancorp Inc. in Huntington, W.Va., is planning to consolidate three of its four subsidiary banks as part of its ongoing effort to build scale, lower its compliance costs and improve its overall efficiency.