Florida

Fidelity Southern in Atlanta has agreed to buy the Florida branch network of First Banks Inc. of Clayton, Mo.

First Capital Holdings in New York has shed three businesses.

Seacoast Banking Corp. of Florida in Stuart has acquired First Growth Capital, a firm that handles receivables funding.

BankUnited in Miami Lakes, Fla., has hired Hakim Kassam, a former Wells Fargo banker, to run its small business finance department.

As big retailers like Walmart are more actively pushing consumers away from signature-based transactions to PIN-based transactions, credit unions stand to lose precious interchange income. But industry insiders suggest CUs may have some tricks up their sleeve to mitigate this challenge.

Achieva Credit Union in Dunedin, Fla., has agreed to buy Calusa Bank in Punta Gorda, Fla.

Pinnacle Financial Partners in Nashville, Tenn., has agreed to buy Magna Bank in Memphis, Tenn.

Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. — Florida Credit Unions Shared Services, Inc. (FCUSS), a CUSO providing the state of Florida with shared branching network services, announced a $551,753 patronage rebate and dividend to its participating CUs and stockholders.

Jacksonville, Fla. — 121 Financial Credit Union has named Bruce Fafard as its new President and CEO, succeeding Bill Braddock, who had served as CEO of the $500 million CU for 28 years.

BankUnited in Miami Lakes, Fla., reported lower quarterly profit as its noninterest expenses rose.

CenterState Banks in Davenport, Fla., has agreed to buy a branch from the parent of SouthBank in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

LAKE MARY, Fla. — Two education-focused credit unions in central Florida merged Thursday.

Bank of America is asking the Justices to overturn lower-court rulings that mortgage loans with a secondary lien on a debtor's asset can be "stripped down" to zero when the collateral is completely underwater. The decision could affect an even wider range of second liens.

Seacoast Banking Corp. of Florida in Stuart has agreed to buy Grand Bankshares in West Palm Beach, Fla.

Atlantic Capital Bancshares in Atlanta has agreed to buy First Security Group in Chattanooga, Tenn.

SUNRISE, Fla. — BrightStar Credit Union has named Michael Tomko as its president and CEO, replacing board member Dr. Colin Battle, who was serving as the interim CEO, and now returns to the board.

SEATAC, Wash. and TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A new state credit union league partnership could provide better HR solutions for CUs everywhere, and it's all because one league staffer wanted to relocate.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The board of directors of PSCU, the credit union service organization, announced that it has named Chuck Fagan as its president and CEO, effective April 27.

In the last five years, a growing number of CUs have dropped the words "credit union" (or "federal credit union") from their names or do business in a manner that downplays their credit union status.

EverBank Financial in Jacksonville, Fla., has announced the share price of a secondary public offering by two institutional stockholders.