Merger arbitrage traders were expecting hiccups in Toronto-Dominion Bank's proposed takeover of First Horizon, but they were unprepared for its cancellation.

The companies cited an inability to secure regulatory approvals after postponing multiple times a closing that had been originally expected last fall.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. failed to create a level playing field for nonbank bidders pursuing First Republic Bank, according to FDIC board member Jonathan McKernan. 

An emergency deal for First Republic Bank will help boost JPMorgan's wealth management business. But company executives acknowledge that there are questions about how many of the failed bank's clients and wealth advisors it will be able to retain.

Land of Lincoln Credit Union in Decatur, Illinois, has agreed to acquire Nokomis Savings Bank. In December, the credit union announced a deal to buy Colchester State Bank.

The Pacific Northwest bank didn't reveal exactly how much more it expects to save. But executives said that they expect to achieve their earlier target sooner than they previously anticipated.

The combination of VyStar and 121 Financial Credit Union — both based in Jacksonville, Florida — would have more than $14 billion of assets.

The Kansas-based buyer is pursuing deals to build out its small-business lending across several states.

Pagaya is exploring an acquisition of Sunlight, which helps homeowners finance rooftop solar panels, people with knowledge of the matter said.

The volume of bank acquisitions — either by credit unions or community banks — has dropped considerably so far in 2023. Experts, including prospective buyers, cite a combination of ongoing regulatory and economic pressures.

The Tennessee bank confirmed in its earnings report that the deal, already delayed by several months amid heightened regulatory scrutiny, likely would not close by a May 27 deadline. No new target date has been set.

As more potential buyers began inquiring about the availability of QCash, WSECU decided the time was right to offload the credit union service organization it launched in 2015.

The approval follows a deal brokered by the Swiss government last month for UBS to acquire its distressed rival.

With the acquisition, the Lake City, Florida-based community bank will nab a consumer-direct platform and expand its footprint in the Midwest.

Banks could be in for a long, slow trickle of bank failures and consolidation in the coming months and years, particularly if inflation persists and interest rates keep rising. A downturn in commercial real estate could add to banks' problems.

The Columbus, Ohio, company expects to record a pretax gain of $57 million from the transaction, which will more than offset the costs of two other recently announced initiatives.

M&A activity has been going through a slump recently, but despite regulatory challenges and fears of a recession, the appetite for deal-making remains strong.

PhonePe backs away from a buy now/pay later acquisition, Germany fines EY for Wirecard scandal, and more.

The equity deal means that Acorns will gain a foothold in the U.K. and Europe, where GoHenry, the challenger bank it acquired, also operates.

The neobank purchased the fintech lender in an all-cash offer, but did not disclose the price tag.