First Niagara recently announced the acquisition of almost 200 HSBC branches in its market area. When asked if this would result in branch closures and layoffs, the chief executive of First Niagara said there wouldn't be many layoffs, because the overlapping branches would be sold rather than closed.

S1 and ACI Worldwide are each trying to win over shareholders in their ongoing merger feud. The Vendors on Monday tried to influence how S1's shareholders will vote for its pending merger with Fundtech.

As Bank of America and other large banks try to dispose of unwanted credit card assets, they are fueling a slow revival in card portfolio M&A — and creating opportunities for smaller banks to get back into the issuing business.

One bank postponed its initial public offering because of recent volatility, and others stock offerings could be delayed for weeks or months. It was bad timing for banks trying to get the jump on weakened competitors.

Looking to trim its overhead, West Coast Bancorp in Lake Oswego, Ore., is planning to close three of its roughly 62 full-service branches by the end of November.

Wells Fargo & Co. said it is hiring 25 investment bankers from hedge-fund Citadel Securities, including its head Brian Maier.

Bank of America Corp. is selling an $8.6 billion credit card portfolio in Canada and plans to unload $19 billion of card loans in Europe as it works to exit the international card business, the issuer announced Aug. 15.

Bank of America Corp. said Monday that it is selling an $8.6 billion credit card portfolio in Canada and plans to unload $19 billion of card loans in Europe as it works to exit the international card business.

WASHINGTON — The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency shut $538.1 million-asset First National Bank of Olathe in Kansas, the first failure in the state this year, bringing the total number of collapses in the country to 64.

Banking companies that received rescue capital from the government and fall behind on payments have trouble getting out of the hole.

Capmark Financial Group Inc. announced Friday that it has abandoned plans to sell off the controlling interest it holds in its bank subsidiary, Utah-based Capmark Bank, after unsettling market conditions broke apart negotiations.

Many banks frustrated by elusive loan and revenue growth are exploring the mergers and acquisitions market — however tentatively — in the hope of improving earnings through cost savings. The pivotal question is how to avoid overpaying for the savings.

Some of the new red tape was supposed to drive deals, but it could dry up M&A among banks near $50 billion of assets.