Paring back branch networks is a quick way to cut costs. But executives at large regionals are reluctant to make such cuts until they have found a way to thrive at other delivery channels.

The $1.2 billion-asset National Commerce said in a press release Tuesday that it will pay about $37 million in cash and stock for the $300 million-asset Reunion Bank.

The Greek debt crisis and China's stock-market crash may put downward pressure on interest rates and delay the Fed's interest rate hike, and they are adding uncertainty at a time when lenders thought recovery would be taking hold.

The Fed determined that the purchase of Susquehanna Bancshares, which would push BB&T's assets above $200 billion, will not pose a threat to the U.S. financial system. The approval could give more regional banks confidence to pursue bigger acquisitions.

Digital-only Atom Bank in the U.K. recently won a banking license — a feat U.S. fintech entrepreneurs have either failed to accomplish or not bothered trying, instead partnering with established institutions.

Americas United Bank in Glendale, Calif., has agreed to buy two branches from Banc of California in Irvine.

The Federal Reserve Bank of New York has named Helen Mucciolo its executive vice president, principal financial officer and head of its corporate group.

A credit review, along with concerns about certain change-in-control agreements, led Southwest Bancorp last summer to terminate a letter of intent to buy First Commercial Bancshares. The banks revisited the deal months later — at a lower premium — after First Commercial addressed the issues.

Premier Financial Bancorp in Huntington, W. Va., has agreed to buy First National Bankshares in Ronceverte, W. Va.

Twelve of the largest financial firms provided more information than they did last year in the public versions of their plans for breaking themselves up in a financial catastrophe, but whether they have done enough to reassure regulators won't be known for months.

Suffolk Bancorp in Riverhead, N.Y. has promoted Anita J. Nigrel to executive vice president and chief retail officer, a newly created position, effective Monday.

A breakdown of M&A announcements in the financial services industry for the week ended July 4.

National Bank Holdings in Greenwood Village, Colo., plans to repurchase as much as $100 million of its common stock.

Yadkin Financial in Elkin, N.C., will pay its former leader $2.2 million over the next year as part of an ongoing management transition.

First National Bankers Bankshares in Baton Rouge, La., has agreed to buy Independent Bankers' Bank of Florida for $1.9 million.

Providence Bank in Columbia, Mo., has acquired Community First Bancorp in Fairview Heights, Ill.

The former FDIC chairman said during a recent conference call that banks with a traditional model — essentially community banks — have been hurt by the Fed's interest rate policy and the trickle-down tactics of regulation.

First Choice Bank, in Cerritos, Calif., has raised $30 million from a secondary stock offering.

Cyber threats or fraud may present bigger direct risks to banks, but many chief risk officers spend enormous amounts of time on the more tangible concern of keeping up with ever-growing regulatory expectations and requirements.

PayPal has agreed to acquire Xoom for $890 million, as the consumer payments company looks to expand into the international remittances business.