Heartland Financial in Dubuque, Iowa, has agreed to buy Founders Bancorp in San Luis Obispo, Calif.

As banks grow and their business models become more complex, some find that adding a general counsel to the staff makes sense. Bank SNB in Stillwater, Okla., says hiring one allowed it to reduce its legal fees by 80%. Here are the pros and cons.

The Bancorp's stock fell nearly 15% Friday after the Wilmington, Del., company reported a large quarterly loss tied to a bad commercial real estate loan.

The Cincinnati bank is looking to middle-market lending in the Charlotte area to fuel future expansion, CEO Greg Carmichael says. The timing may be right, given disruption from M&A, as well as the Wells Fargo scandal fallout.

The $11.2 billion-asset Banc of California said in a press release Friday that it sold the division the $4.4 billion-asset Hanmi. The companies did not disclose the price.

Back in the black and looking increasingly healthy for the first time in a decade, First Mariner is poised to accelerate growth next year.

A unit of First Horizon National in Memphis, Tenn., has agreed to buy Coastal Securities, a Houston firm that trades, securitizes and analyzes Small Business Administration loans.

The group, known as First Boston Holdings, also plans to raise $100 million. The group said Admirals will be renamed Bank & Trust Company of Boston.

A recent federal court decision affirming the right of a servicer to collect on private student loans originated on Sallie Mae's behalf is good news for several parties, including marketplace lenders and others that partner with banks to make loans.

Five banks in Kansas are putting together plans to share a compliance officer. While the move should save money, the banks are fully aware of the risks involved with the potential collaboration.

The regulatory environment could be looking brighter for New York Community Bancorp as it is poised to cross an important regulatory threshold.

First Citizens BancShares reported a sharp decline in quarterly profit that largely reflected merger-related costs and the Raleigh, N.C., company's exit from loss-sharing agreements.

UMB Financial in Kansas City, Mo., has made changes to incentive compensation for its branch employees.

The latest tale of wrongdoing tied to the financial services industry is the outcome of a smart customer-centered strategy that went awry. Now, bank customers will ultimately suffer the most.

New York Community Bancorp in Westbury, N.Y., reported higher third-quarter earnings after a debt repositioning last year helped its net interest income.

Executives pointed to cost reductions, revenue opportunities and improving returns as early indications of success. Management also touted Key's quick response to a integration snafu that "impacted a very small percentage" of First Niagara clients.

KeyCorp in Cleveland posted lower profit after merger-related costs cut into its bottom line.

The acquisition of Middleburg Financial would create a nearly $2.5 billion-asset bank in northern Virginia with strong mortgage originations and a growing wealth management business. It would provide an endgame for Middleburg while also making Access more appealing to potential buyers.

Access National in Reston, Va., has agreed to buy Middleburg Financial in Virginia for $233.1 million, or $32.51 a share, in stock.

Community Bank System in Syracuse, N.Y., has agreed to buy Merchants Bancshares in South Burlington, Vt., for $304 million, or $44.02 a share, in cash and stock.