Growth strategies

Bank First's deal for Partnership is the third Wisconsin bank merger announced this week.

Industry groups and lawmakers have joined bankers in insisting the agency develop a plan to resolve the paperwork problem before the partial government shutdown ends.

The company will pay $93 million for Kinderhook Bank, which has a concentration of branches around Albany.

Most bigger banks aren't interested in buying out their smaller counterparts, but these institutions are of interest to credit unions looking to grow.

The company will top $1 billion in assets after it buys the parent of F&M Bank in Tomah, Wis.

Greenwoods Financial will have $270 million in assets when it buys Fox River Financial.

The Chicago-area credit union can now accept members who live or work in a variety of Illinois counties.

The Midland, Mich.-based institution returned $19.4 million to members for 2018 through rewards and dividends.

John Milleson, who has led the company for 20 years, will retire after his successor is in place.

The Indiana-based institution's distribution for 2018 was up more than 60 percent from the previous year.