Conventional investor wisdom has it that a majority of bank mergers don't realize their promised synergies— leaving both the banks and their investors disappointed. Yes, there is plenty of anecdotal evidence of "in-market" mergers between two banks from the same country that did not live up to the hype.

Any thought that Visa Inc. was interested in merchant acquiring quickly dissipated last week, when the card network decided to sell an online merchant portfolio it inherited from a purchase two years ago to Global Payments.

Spanish banking giant Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argenteria said Tuesday that it expects to take a goodwill impairment charge of roughly $1.3 billion on its U.S. unit in the fourth quarter due to ongoing concerns about the pace of the economic recovery here.

The sluggish market for credit card portfolios may pick up this year, if card losses continue to abate and potential buyers stay on the path of rebuilding capital.

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CLO issuances will likely increase this year after tripling last year, but volatility in Europe and other macroeconomic issues present a big challenge.

Bankers are frustrated by lackluster earnings and low stock prices despite improving balance sheets. Many long for the return of pre-crisis earnings growth and pricing multiples. Some will be tempted to pursue increased earnings through misguided expansion strategies rather than returning excess capital to investors.

In the months before Bank of America Corp. acquired Countrywide Financial Corp., government officials exchanged emails discussing the beleaguered mortgage lender and rumors that it might collapse.

Investors holding at least $800 million of secured bonds in Residential Capital, which does business under the brand name GMAC Mortgage, have organized in the event the firm's parent, Ally Financial, throws the company into bankruptcy.

Robert Braswell, Georgia's banking commissioner, has learned a lot after seeing 74 banks fail in his state since 2008. He remains cautious about 2012 as his team emphasizes more risk control and corporate governance at the banks that remain.

So-called direct banks have become a favored avenue out of the shadow financial system, and into the federal safety net, for household names like General Electric, American Express and Discover.

With its deal for RBC Bank nearing completion, PNC takes a big step toward goal of reducing overhead by $150 million by early 2013.

A troubled Chicago-area community bank that just received a large capital infusion from its owners is now negotiating to restructure its loan with Cole Taylor Bank as it aims to rebuild its capital reserves.

Spain's Banco Santander SA said Monday it had reached the 9% core capital level demanded by the European Banking Association after taking measures in recent months to boost its solvency, including several asset sales.

Regions Financial Corp. is in advanced discussions to sell its Morgan Keegan & Co. brokerage unit to Raymond James Financial Inc. or Stifel Financial Corp. for between $900 million and $1 billion, according to people familiar with the situation.

PHILADELPHIA — NCUA this afternoon took People for People Community Development CU under conservatorship while it tries to nurse the troubled CDCU back to health.

Decisions to sell by some troubled banks prompted a spurt of deals last month, but M&A in 2011 was still the slowest in years. The economy and low valuations will quell any carryover effect.

Heritage Bank Inc. in Erlanger, Ky., has agreed to buy Farmers National Bank in Walton, Ky., in what would be the first acquisition in Heritage’s 21-year history.

Edwin Hale sold a million shares in the Baltimore company a week after leaving for a meager 2 cents each.

As Global Payments Inc. reported quarterly earnings, the processor announced a deal to purchase CyberSource's U.S. merchant-acquiring portfolio from Visa Inc.