Growth strategies

Kekaha CU will keep its brand identity following the merger, operating as "a division of Aloha Pacific Federal Credit Union."

The North Carolina regional bank will gain four locations and $834 million in loans.

After incorporating big data, tweaking existing products and reducing barriers for new members, the Mass.-based credit union saw increased checking usage, more deposits and higher PFI levels.

At one time 27 CUs served the store’s employees, and the closure of the last one is a microcosm of the issues plaguing many single-SEG credit unions.

The Mississippi company will have 22 branches and more than $1 billion in assets when the deal is completed.

Blue Hills Bancorp in Massachusetts completed a second-step conversion and was poised to bulk up on acquisitions. It struck its one and only deal this fall — and it was not the kind it had in mind.

As the Latham, N.Y., credit union adds branches, it plans to put an emphasis on service, rather than transactions.

The Mississippi bank will pay up to $100 million to expand in southwest Alabama and Dallas.

The Arkansas company will pay $170 million to buy Reliance Bancshares.

The proposed merger of two family-owned institutions would create a $5 billion-asset bank in Texas.