The Armed Forces Benefit Association plans to sell its bank to local management. While insurers have been fleeing the industry due to regulation, the group says it is getting out because its membership's use of the bank is falling and it would rather use the capital to expand its life insurance business.

It's not easy to survive as a single-branch community bank anymore. That's the view of John Essen, president of Community Savings Bank in Bethel, Ohio, which agreed this week to merge with Home Building and Loan Co., a savings and loan in Greenfield, Ohio.

Stifel Financial (SF) has agreed to buy a Legg Mason wealth management unit, the two companies announced Wednesday.

There are few winners in the current debt collection system. The majority of debt collectors have earned their toxic reputations and are deserving of increasingly heavy regulatory scrutiny.

Bank of America has sold more than 230 branches with $7.5 billion in deposits in the last two years. Here is a list of the nine banks that have bought the bulk of those locations.

National Penn Bancshares (NPBC) in Allentown, Pa., has agreed to buy TF Financial (THRD) in Newtown, Pa. The $8.6 billion-asset National Penn will pay $138 million in cash and stock for the $846 million-asset TF Financial.

Old National Bancorp (ONB) in Evansville, Ind., has agreed to buy LSB Financial (LSBI) in Lafayette, Ind. The $9.6 billion-asset Old National will pay about $67 million, or $41.67 a share, in cash and stock for the $366 million-asset LSB.

Independent Bank Group (IBTX) in McKinney, Texas, plans to file a shelf registration that would allow it to sell up to $250 million in debt and equity securities.

They look great on paper, but mergers of equals are always difficult to integrate due to cultural issues. United Financial in Glastonbury, Conn., is learning that lesson with Jeff Sullivan's departure less than six weeks after the company's merger with Rockville Financial.

CU Bancorp (CUNB) in Encino, Calif., has agreed to buy 1st Enterprise Bank (FENB) in Los Angeles.

Independent Bank Group (IBTX) in McKinney, Texas, has agreed to buy Houston City Bancshares.

First BanCorp (FBP) in San Juan, Puerto Rico, has resolved a large outstanding loan to Doral Financial (DRL) by taking on $242 million on mortgages that were used as collateral for the loan.

A key member of United Financial Bancorp's management team has departed a month after the company's merger with Rockville Financial.

Downs, Kan., has had two locally based banks for many years, according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.'s website. One dates to 1892, and the other to 1919.

A group of investment firms has forced American Bancorp. into liquidation over unpaid trust-preferred debt. Creditors have threatened to go this route before but this is the first time any have followed through, serving as an ominous precedent for the up to 300 banks in danger of defaulting on the hybrid securities.

Mercantile Bank (MBWM) in Grand Rapids, Mich., has finally completed its acquisition of Firstbank (FBMI) in Alma, Mich.

Deposits and assets have fallen, and some customers and employees have fled, while Hudson City in Paramus, N.J., has been stuck in an M&A limbo. But the situation might save buyer M&T Bank some headaches later — if it can just close the deal.

SunTrust Banks (STI) finalized the sale of its asset management unit RidgeWorth Investments on Monday for $265 million.

A breakdown of M&A announcements in the financial services industry for the week ended May 31.

The Seminole Tribe of Florida is reportedly seeking approval to form a bank and buy Valley Bank in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.