Banco Santander SA's U.S. consumer lender subsidiary, which originates subprime loans for new- vehicle purchases and leases, is seeking to raise as much as $1.56 billion in an initial public offering.

BancorpSouth (BXS) in Tupelo, Miss., has agreed to buy Ouachita Bancshares in Monroe, La.

Southern National Bancorp of Virginia (SONA) in McLean has agreed to buy Prince George's Federal Savings Bank in Upper Marlboro, Md.

Investment banking firm Sandler O'Neill has given Scott Hildenbrand the additional job of co-chief balance sheet strategist.

Some banks in downsizing mode are subleasing branches that are too large. Advocates say subleasing can help banks avoid selling branches for cheap; others warns about the cost-benefit of retrofitting a building.

The new year will bring an end to big regulatory settlements with banks, a sharp drop-off in the number of branches across the industry, increased use of biometric technology and a breakthrough in banks' use of big data. American Banker editors discuss these and other predictions for the year ahead in banking.

First Niagara Financial Group (FNFG) in Buffalo, N.Y., is laying off employees and shutting down branches as it seeks to retool its retail operations.

TriState Capital (TSC) in Pittsburgh has agreed to buy Chartwell Investment Partners, an investment management firm in Berwyn, Pa.

Old National Bancorp (ONB) in Evansville, Ind., has agreed to buy United Bancorp (UBMI) in Ann Arbor, Mich.

A plan to inject $50 million into U.S. Century Bank has reportedly been called off, leaving the undercapitalized Doral, Fla., bank in limbo.

The Minneapolis bank's agreement to buy 94 RBS-owned branches in Chicago is the biggest deal that a big bank has pursued in awhile, and observers will watch the approval process closely for any signs that regulators are warming to the idea of acquisitions by large banks.

SouthCrest Financial Group (SCSG) in Peachtree City, Ga., has received regulatory approval to merge its four banks into a single charter operating under the name SouthCrest Bank.

Union First Market Bankshares (UBSH) in Richmond, Va., has taken a stake in a local payments firm.

U.S. Bancorp (USB) in Minneapolis has agreed to buy the Chicago branches of RBS Citizens Financial Group, a deal that would double its deposit share in the Windy City.

Community Bank in Pasadena, Calif., has hired a chief executive.

The vice chairman of M&T Bank (MTB) has resigned, spurring the Buffalo company to expand the roles of a handful of top executives.

Square 1 Financial in Durham, N.C., is planning an initial public offering.

The Minneapolis company has inked a deal to buy 105 Chicago-area branches of Citizens Financial Group, the U.S. bank owned by Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC, Crain's Chicago Business reported Monday.

Cincinnati's First Financial Bancorp amassed a lot of capital thanks to failed-bank deals but took its time deciding what to do with it. Its three recent expansion moves put it in the company of other failed-bank buyers that are shifting to open-bank M&A.

A breakdown of M&A announcements in the financial services industry for the week ended Jan. 4