Location Root Tag

A consumer lender with nearly 300 far-flung offices struggled to keep up with multiple compliance projects using email and Microsoft Project. Then it turned to collaboration software, and demanded some customized changes, that helped tie its many loose threads together.

When Mike Mercer spearheaded a special outreach campaign in Georgia, the name of that project sums up what he, and the credit union movement, have always sought to do: "Helping People Afford Life."

Farmers Capital Bank in Versailles, Ky., has been freed from a regulatory order.

The trade group's leader touted progress in areas such as qualified mortgages and flood insurance, but he also encouraged members to keep speaking out against overzealous supervision.

HomeTrust Bancshares created a special call center and encouraged tellers to invite ATM customers inside the branches to answer questions and to differentiate the company from Bank of America in terms of fees.

The $691 million-asset Howard will pay $10.1 million, or $5.09 a share, in cash and stock for the $226 million-asset Patapsco.

The California company has poached lenders from larger rivals, while expanding into specialty finance lines. Those moves have positioned Opus for a growth spurt that should outpace organic growth at most other community banks.

MUSKEGO, Wis. — Jim Schrimpf has retired from his position on the board of directors at Corporate Central CU here, with Jay Magulski set to take his place on the corporate CU's board.

BETHALTO, Ill. — The final bell has rung for School District #9 Credit Union in Granite City, Ill., as it was officially merged into $585 million 1st MidAmerica Credit Union, here.

Sterling Bancorp in Montebello, N.Y., has acquired payroll funding firm Damian Services Corp.

WSFS Financial in Wilmington, Del., has agreed to buy Alliance Bancorp Inc. of Pennsylvania in Broomall.

Wintrust Financial in Rosemont, Ill., has agreed to buy Community Financial Shares in Wheaton, Ill.

Vincent Hui, senior director with Cornerstone Advisors Inc. in Scottsdale, Ariz., said he expects interest rates will go up "a little bit" in 2015, but nowhere near the sharp rise some forecasters predicted near the end of 2014.

A hedge fund is pressuring Webster Financial in Waterbury, Conn., to consider spinning off its health savings account division.

Home Bancorp in Lafayette, La., has converted from a federal savings bank to a national bank charter.

The Texas banker, who chaired the ICBA during the financial crisis, feels much better about the regulatory environment for smaller banks. She just wishes that interest rates would finally rise.

The lobbying group's agenda typically includes a general session featuring top regulators. But with the ICBA's Washington Policy Summit two months away, the group opted to steer the focus of its annual convention toward education.

Eagle Bancorp in Bethesda, Md., is looking to raise funds to exit the Small Business Lending Fund.

State Bank Financial in Atlanta has acquired Boyett Agency to serve as the foundation for a new insurance division.

LANSING, Mich. — Several men from Detroit have pleaded guilty to a string of credit union robberies here late last year.