California

Wells Fargo, widely regarded as the industry's least complex megabank, has recently made big moves into the volatile world of investment banking. But don't read too much into it, according to John Shrewsberry, its chief financial officer.

Farmers & Merchants Bancorp in Lodi, Calif., has agreed to buy Delta National Bancorp in Manteca, Calif.

A longtime California bank regulator and executive has joined the board at Hanmi Financial in Los Angeles.

The $654 million-asset bank said in a press release Monday that it had reorganized under OP Bancorp after receiving approval from shareholders and regulators.

First Republic Bank in San Francisco plans to raise about $178 million through a common stock offering.

Community Business Bank in West Sacramento, Calif., has finally put the Troubled Asset Relief Program in the past.

Nonperforming commercial-and-industrial loans are soaring, and loans to farmers and construction firms — not just oil and gas companies — are a big reason.

Banc of California’s shareholders delivered a pair of rebukes for the Irvine company’s management.

Louise Walker, the head of First Northern Bank in Dixon, Calif., will be wearing an additional hat over the next year — chair of the California Bankers Association.

PacWest Bancorp in Los Angeles is the latest bank to exit its loss-share agreements with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.

Truxton Trust's approach is just one strategy banks are using attract more wealthy clients. But whether they are exploring out-of-market opportunities, staying local or employing robo-advisers, banks all have the same goals: to generate more fee income at a time when margins from lending continue to shrink.

State officials in California have asked top online lending firms a series of probing questions regarding their compliance with laws and regulations dealing with referral fees, bank partnerships, fair lending and other sensitive issues.

Banc of California bulked up quickly in the aftermath of the financial crisis, first through acquisitions and now with organic growth. CEO Steven Sugarman discusses how his bank manages its exposure while preparing to cross an important regulatory threshold.

Serving on a bank board is a tough gig, and the fact that a number of bank directors sit on the boards of four or more public companies is raising questions about whether they are too busy to be good watchdogs.

Pacific Premier Bancorp in Irvine, Calif., is planning to close three California branches.

Central Valley Community Bancorp in Fresno, Calif., has agreed to buy the $156 million-asset Sierra Vista Bank in Folsom, Calif., for $24 million, or $5.22 a share, in cash and stock.

Sanford Weill, the retired chairman and chief executive of Citigroup, and his wife, Joan, have pledged $185 million to the University of California at San Francisco to create a new research center.

Corporate governance experts normally recommend splitting the chairman and CEO roles at public companies, but Wells' shareholders let John Stumpf keep both jobs.

Opus Bank in Irvine, Calif., reported a profit of $17.1 million in the first quarter, up 56% from a year earlier, as strong loan growth more than offset higher expenses and an uptick in problem loans. Its earnings per share climbed 50%, to 51 cents.

Illinois, California and New York are all taking initial steps to try to crack down on borrower abuses in the fast-growing digital lending marketplace. The states are facing pressure to intervene because federal agencies have yet to take decisive action.