California

The agreement between the state’s financial regulator and Meratas will subject the company to heightened regulation after years of criticism that income-share agreements have escaped scrutiny.

The high cost of living in the state's bigger markets is limiting growth and turning off buyers. CVB Financial and TriCo Bancshares found sellers in the more affordable cities of Visalia and Bakersfield.

With an agreement in hand to buy Bank of Commerce Holdings in Sacramento, the Washington company will prioritize filling in a 200-mile gap between the seller's footprint and its own.

Manny Alvarez, the head of California’s Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, told staff that he plans to leave on June 18. Chief Deputy Commissioner Chris Shultz will be appointed to lead the agency on an interim basis.

The Department of Financial Protection and Innovation has tapped Christina Tetreault as the head of the newly created Office of Financial Technology and Innovation.

Cal Poly Federal Credit Union's recent merger into SchoolsFirst highlights the difficult choice many small institutions face: diversify your field of membership or risk going out of business.

While many institutions are part of nationwide shared-branch networks, three Southern California credit unions have agreed to share one facility. The arrangement is believed to be the only one of its kind.

The fintech, which has applied for a California banking license and federal deposit insurance, aims to become a full-service online bank for 1 million Americans by year-end, says Ron Oliveira, its U.S. chief executive.

The deal, subject to approval from regulators and members, will add to Valley Strong's existing branch network and comes after several years of losses at Solano First.

The companies pledged to share data with regulators, abide by certain restrictions on pricing and submit to regular examinations. But the voluntary pacts stop short of placing restrictions on existing revenue models.