Operating from Kansas, payments processor Euronet Worldwide has been working furiously—and quietly—on a way to disrupt China-based Ant Financial's deal to buy Dallas-based MoneyGram ever since news broke in January.

The New Orleans company, which recently sold nine branches and $1.3 billion in loans, was ordered to raise more capital or find a buyer.

First Busey will pay $133 million in cash and stock for Mid Illinois in a deal that should close later this year.

The private-equity firm Vista Equity Partners will acquire D+H in a deal valued at $3.57 billion.

Farmers National will pay about $7.8 million in cash and stock for the $43.3 million-asset Monitor in a deal that should close in the second or third quarter.

State Bank of Texas, which bought the failed Seaway Bank in January, is selling nine branches to Self-Help Credit Union.

Pinnacle Financial wanted to be in high-growth markets. BNC Bancorp saw more regulatory burden looming and limited opportunities to sell itself. Those factors spurred what is currently the year's second-biggest bank deal.

The two institutions will operate under the Community Choice CU banner.

American Banker readers share their views on the most pressing banking topics of the week. Comments are excerpted from reader response sections of AmericanBanker.com articles and our social media platforms.

The tiny Flagship Bank has made an unusual bet in agreeing to pay 20 times current capital to buy BankMobile, but the same Durbin amendment that prompted Customers Bancorp to sell the unit also made Flagship the ideal buyer.

Investar will pay $46 million in cash for Citizens, which has three branches and $246 million in assets.

The price Customers Bancorp is getting for its BankMobile unit would exceed the initial estimates of $100 million to $150 million.

The New York bank will double in size while gaining greater access to Long Island and low-cost deposits that should come in handy as interest rates rise.

Premier Asset Management will add $550 million of assets under management to a platform that First Midwest has historically built with organic growth.

The agreement comes three months after Astoria and New York Community Bancorp called off plans to merge.

The Chicago company postponed a vote planned late last year after a surge in bank stocks changed the math behind the cash-and-stock transaction.

Cache Valley Bank in Utah agreed to buy Proficio's deposits and most of its assets.

Merger will join two CUs originally chartered to serve telephone company employees.

Caliber will also buy about $36 million of mortgage servicing rights in a deal that is expected to close at the end of March.

The bank will have $700 million in assets under management after it buys HJ Wealth Management in Pennsylvania.