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.

Border Bancshares in Greenbush, Minn., has agreed to buy full ownership of First Advantage Bank in Coon Rapids, Minn.

CertusHoldings in Greenville, S.C., is getting very little money for selling its broker-dealer and wealth-management units.

Security National Bank in Sioux City, Iowa, said Thursday that it has agreed to purchase First Trust & Savings Bank in Moville, Iowa.

American Savings Bank in Honolulu announced Wednesday that its parent company, Hawaiian Electric Industries, is planning to spin off the bank.

In at least three recent instances, trust-preferred investors have filed lawsuits against lenders who either bought or sold banks in transactions designed to bypass such debtholders.

James Ladio, a former chief executive of MidCoast Community Bank in Wilmington, Del., was sentenced to two years in prison for his role in a fraudulent loan scheme.

Beneficial Mutual Bancorp has completed the stock-sale portion of its conversion to a wholly stock-owned company, raising between $468 million and $550 million.