United Financial Bancorp in Glastonbury, Conn., is planning to close five branches and lay off the employees who work in them.

FNBK Holdings in Dallas has agreed to acquire the First National Bank of Kemp in Texas.

Valley National in Wayne, N.J., will use proceeds from a branch sale in New York City to offset costs tied to prepaying debt.

Michael Scudder stands to get a full year of benefits from three recently completed deals. The big question, however, is whether First Midwest will pursue a transformative deal to cross over $10 billion in assets and offset a heightened regulatory burden.

LCNB Corp. in Lebanon, Ohio, has agreed to buy BNB Bancorp in Brookville, Ohio.

Jack Kopnisky of Sterling Bancorp in New York, which completed a major acquisition last year and has another in the works, is close to reaching his goal of creating a top earner. That effort, and the risks associated with it, make Kopnisky one of American Banker’s five community bankers to watch in 2015.

On at least three occasions, Michael Daly flexed his bargaining muscles in discussions with Hampden Bancorp. His tenacity led to a privately negotiated deal, a reduced exchange ratio and an amended employment agreement with Hampden's chief lending officer.

A judge has named Deerwood Bank winner of the bankruptcy auction for American Bank of St. Paul, in the first test of involuntary bankruptcy as a means of resolving trust-preferred debt.

John Poelker joined a bank in crisis when he agreed to lead Certus in April. His efforts to turn around a crisis-riddled South Carolina company make him one of American Banker's 2015 community bankers to watch.

Andrew Samuel left Susquehanna Bancshares, where he was in line to become CEO, to run the tiny Sunshine Bancorp in Florida. While Susquehanna recently agreed to sell itself to BB&T, Samuel has been working furiously to hire and expand at his new employer.

Dan Rollins' ability to have a BSA-related consent order removed and get two acquisitions back on track could embolden more big community banks to pursue deals next year.

A federal bankruptcy court has approved the sale of PNA Bank in Chicago.

Fairmount Bancorp in Baltimore seems poised to face a proxy battle next year from activist investor Joseph Stilwell.

As the real estate market ramps back up, lenders are looking for ways to diversify their portfolios, even if the returns are slim.

BofI Holding in San Diego has agreed to buy $125 million in deposit accounts from a unit of First Marblehead.

Citizens National in Paintsville, Ky., has acquired Peoples Security Bancorp in Louisa, Ky.

Deals and departures were common trends among bankers we highlighted as worth watching in 2014. In fact, only a few bankers managed to avoid major headlines in the past year.

WASHINGTON — The Federal Housing Finance Agency said Monday it has approved the merger of the Federal Home Loan banks of Des Moines and Seattle, giving approval to the first voluntary combination in the history of the system.

A breakdown of M&A announcements in the financial services industry for the week ended Dec. 20.

First Guaranty Bancshares had hoped to raise more than $60 million but a dip in oil prices spooked potential investors even though just 3% of the bank's loans involve energy companies.