The year's second-biggest bank merger created a Midwestern regional with nearly $50 billion in assets, and its CEO and executive vice chairman don't intend to stop there.

Dealmaking had been sluggish until mid-July. Factors behind the uptick include uncertainty about both margins and loan growth.

Two of the three multibillion-dollar payment mergers announced in 2019 closed this week, and these global giants must now fend off the invigorated fintechs eager to nab unhappy merchant and bank clients.

If Bank of America had decided a few years ago to end its joint venture with First Data, it would have been looked upon as just another instance in which a bank was either planning to handle its own payments in-house, or turning those tasks over to a processor.

As management teams meet to set their priorities, there is a range of issues, including consolidation, cybersecurity and succession planning, that will likely come up.

The Arkansas company will pay $434 million for Landrum Co., which also has branches in Oklahoma and Texas.

The Louisiana company will pay $15 million in cash for Bank of York.

To combat the notion that regional banks’ tech offerings are inferior, the combined BB&T-SunTrust will have to go “toe-to-toe” with big banks, BB&T chief Kelly King said ahead of shareholder approval of the deal Tuesday.

The fallout from this spring’s slate of multibillion-dollar payment company acquisitions began swiftly, as Bank of America on Monday announced plans to end its joint venture with First Data just hours after Fiserv’s acquisition of First Data closed.

House lawmakers go light on BB&T-SunTrust merger; Santander Bank names longtime MUFG Union executive its CEO; the fintechs trying to solve America's retirement problem; and more from this week's most-read stories.

Byline Bancorp is in discussions to buy Parkway Bank and Trust, according to a local publication.

Record oil production has lenders contemplating acquisitions in the region.

Fiserv expects its $22 billion purchase of First Data Corp. to close on Monday after clearing regulatory requirements.

A stronger U.S. economy paved the way for Toast and other companies like it, such as Bolt and Due, to find their own niche against PayPal, Stripe and Square when it came to serving small restaurants or coffee shops with point-of-sale hardware and software.

First Financial Banc will gain nearly $300 million in liquidity when it acquires First National Corp. of Wynne.

The company will also gain deposits and loans from its deal with Republic Bancorp.

The mobile point of sale market has grown far beyond its roots as an off-the-shelf dongle for smartphones. The category is now driving major acquisitions, collaborations and international deployments.

The company agreed to buy the parent of Countryside Bank for $90.5 million.

The company agreed to pay $66 million for the parent of Citizens State Bank in Tyler, Texas.

The Wisconsin regional agreed to buy the parent of First National Bank in Staunton for $76 million in cash.