California

The $4.8 billion-asset HomeStreet said in a press release Monday that it will pay $49.8 million in stock, or $11.70 a share, and $5.5 million in cash for the $200 million-asset Orange County Business Bank.

Western Alliance Bancorp's Bridge Bank in San Jose, Calif., has created a lending group to focus on the life sciences sector.

Money360, a marketplace lender that focuses on commercial real estate, has hired mortgage industry veteran Gary Bechtel as its president.

California Bank of Commerce in Lafayette, Calif., has agreed to buy Pan Pacific Bank in Fremont, Calif.

The California Department of Business Oversight, which regulates financial services and products, has promoted Debie Abella to head of bank regulation and supervision.

Funding Circle has formed a partnership with H&R Block to provide loans to the tax preparation firm’s small-business customers.

FNB Bancorp in South San Francisco, Calif., has acquired America California Bank in San Francisco.

Community 1st Bank in Auburn, Calif., has named Kevin Watson chief financial officer.

The San Francisco company hopes to lower its costs by driving out human intervention as much as possible. To get there, it has made the counterintuitive decision to locate its operations staff in one of the country’s most expensive cities.

Summit State Bank in Santa Rosa, Calif., has exited the Small Business Lending Fund.

Ebrahim Shabudin, former chief operating officer and chief credit officer at United Commercial Bank in San Francisco, has been sentenced to 97 months in prison for securities fraud related to the bank's failure.

Pacific Mercantile Bancorp in Costa Mesa, Calif., has reached an agreement to swap about 3 million shares of common stock for all of its outstanding preferred stock and warrants.

Oak Valley Bancorp in Oakdale, Calif., has agreed to buy Mother Lode Bank in Sonora, Calif.

Tri-Valley Bank in San Ramon, Calif., plans to raise $1.35 million in a private placement of its common stock.

Santa Cruz County Bank in California has named Angelo DeBernardo its chief lending officer.

Heritage Oaks Bancorp in Paso Robles, Calif., has named Jason Castle chief financial officer, following CFO Lonny Robinson's resignation after grooming him for the job.

Banc of California in Irvine is looking for a new chief financial officer, after Ronald Nicolas announced his resignation.

CU Direct, a provider of lending, automotive and strategic solutions to the credit union industry headquartered here, on Wednesday said it has entered into a new agreement with Credit Union Leasing of America (CULA).

Broadway Financial in Los Angeles has named former MUFG Union Bank executive Erin Selleck to its board.

Presidio Bank in San Francisco has named Larry Nibbi, a minority owner of the San Francisco Giants, to its board.