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.

TD Ameritrade and its largest stakeholder, Toronto-Dominion Bank, agreed to buy Scottrade Financial for $4 billion, combining two of the largest online brokerages while expanding the U.S. operations of Canada's second-largest lender.

WestStar Bank in El Paso, Texas, said it has acquired assets from Cimarron Mortgage Capital that are to Cimarron's construction lending and residential mortgage divisions.

James Cope entered into an agreement with the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee to plead guilty to one count of insider trading; he will serve a two-year probationary sentence.

Home BancShares in Arkansas would rather buy banks that meet its financial parameters than do one large deal to catapult over $10 billion in assets. The bank also spent most of this year idling with M&A so it could prepare for stress testing.

Greg Carmichael, who has been on the job nearly a year as Fifth Third's CEO, has started putting his stamp on the company by aggressively trimming branches in favor of mobile, seeking to build up its consumer credit business and retooling the balance sheet.

Independent Bank in Rockland, Mass., has agreed to buy Island Bancorp in Edgartown, Mass.

Equity Bancshares in Wichita, Kan., has agreed to buy Prairie State Bancshares in Hoxie, Kan.

Combining biometrics with device ID, social data, behavior patterns and other factors builds a strong foundation for artificial intelligence to conduct identity proofing and transaction authorization.