Trevor Burgess, CEO of C1 Financial, brings an investment banker's irreverence to the normally decorous business of community banking. But he's produced a record that backs up his brash talk.

BBVA's purchase this week of Madiva Soluciones will help it solve customer analytics problems. But more importantly, it brings the bank a stable of experienced data scientists.

The Mississippi company is hopeful examiners will recognize progress made on Bank Secrecy Act compliance, including a much bigger staff and enhanced systems. If all goes well, BancorpSouth could have a consent order lifted, paving the way for it to refile applications for two acquisitions it hopes to complete next year.

Bidding is over in the first bankruptcy auction to be held at the demand of trust-preferred creditors, but there's no clear winner.

WASHINGTON — Congress passed legislation late Thursday that will expand community bank access to the debt markets in order to finance acquisitions.

Investors in the failed Tennessee Commerce Bank have reached a tentative agreement to resolve a two-year-old class action involving the bank.

Georgia once was known as the state hit with the most bank failures. Renasant's agreement to buy Heritage Financial in Albany, Ga., is the latest of several deals where buyers have paid strong premiums to enter or expand in the state.

The $1 billion-asset ESB said in a press release Thursday that it will pay $53 million in cash for the $333 million-asset Citizens National.

NCAL Bancorp in Los Angeles has raised nearly $11 million in the first stage of its stock sale.

Renasant Corp. in Tupelo, Miss., has agreed to buy Heritage Financial Group in Albany, Ga., for roughly $258 million.

ViewPoint Financial is on the verge of finalizing its $300 million acquisition of LegacyTexas Group, a deal that was delayed two times.

Anchor Bancorp in St. Paul, Minn., has agreed to buy VFSC in Eden Prairie, Minn.

Activist investor Joseph Stilwell is threatening to fight yet another proxy battle against Harvard Illinois Bancorp.

Deborah Wright, who is set to retire as Carver's CEO at year-end, says the New York bank is preparing new products to reach underserved parts of the city. While she says community development banks should merge, Carver has no immediately plans to roll them up.

M&T Bancorp in Buffalo, N.Y., has once again delayed its planned purchase of Hudson City Bancorp in Paramus, N.J.

Centrue Financial in Ottawa, Ill., has sold $35.2 million in classified loans and other assets.

John Grayken, the billionaire who made his fortune betting on troubled borrowers, has joined the bidding for Citigroup's subprime-lending arm, OneMain Financial, people familiar with the matter said.

SmartFinancial in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., has agreed to merge with Cornerstone Bancshares in Chattanooga, Tenn.

Iberiabank Corp. in Lafayette, La., will enter the Atlanta market, agreeing to buy Georgia Commerce Bancshares.

The end of the year is a busy time for closing bank acquisitions — at least buyers are hoping that is the case. With the average deal taking about 120 days to complete, there are plenty of banks anxiously awaiting a call from regulators.