Florida

Nationwide the number of bank branches fell by about 1.7% last year. But some cities and states were hit harder than others, according to data from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and research firm BankRegData.

National Commerce in Birmingham, Ala., is looking to raise $50 million through an initial public offering.

Home BancShares in Conway, Ark., has named a new chief for its banking unit.

Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla., will accept Apple Pay as a companion to its own contactless payment cards and wristbands.

Legacy Bank of Florida in Boca Raton has been released from an enforcement action with state and federal regulators.

Andrew Samuel left Susquehanna Bancshares, where he was in line to become CEO, to run the tiny Sunshine Bancorp in Florida. While Susquehanna recently agreed to sell itself to BB&T, Samuel has been working furiously to hire and expand at his new employer.

TAMPA, Fla. — In an effort to encourage physical fitness among its membership and local community, GTE Financial CU has offered a cash incentive for individuals who exercise, lose weight and shed belly-fat.

MELBOURNE, Fla. — To modernize its cross-departmental technologies, Space Coast Credit Union decided to adopt a new core platform that its executives say will complement ancillary product offerings.

Renasant Corp. in Tupelo, Miss., has agreed to buy Heritage Financial Group in Albany, Ga., for roughly $258 million.

The American Bankers Association has added 12 banks to community banks indexed and listed with the Nasdaq stock exchange.

PALM SPRINGS and WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — It's not often that competing financial institutions agree to share, but that's not the case for two Florida credit unions.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Credit union membership is up in Florida and Alabama, thanks in part to the success of a long-term branding campaign started more than three years ago.

Iberiabank Corp. in Lafayette, La., was initially willing to pay up to $24 million more than what it eventually agreed to pay for Florida Bank Group in Tampa.

LOS ANGELES and NOTRE DAME, Ind. — Two collegiate credit unions are putting a football rivalry to good use.

TAMPA, Fla. — Efficient member onboarding is a continuing challenge for most credit unions, which is why Grow Financial Credit Union decided to test tablet technology to sign up members' offsite, but with a personal touch.

Safeway FCU and Spokane City CU have selected D+H Corp. in Lake Mary, Fla., as their provider of outsourced, online banking services.

MERRIT ISLAND, Fla. — Kennedy Space Center Federal Credit Union was flying high.

Fidelity Southern in Atlanta has agreed to buy deposits and loans from Florida Capital Bank.

Columbia Banking System in Tacoma, Wash., and First Business Financial Services in Madison, Wis., were among a sizable group of banking companies that completed acquisitions in recent days.

MEDLEY, Fla. — Besides the usual measures of requiring a down payment, adjusting the interest up, and staying on top of collections, Compass Financial Federal Credit Union uses a few other tactics that focus less on interest rates and credit scores to keep delinquencies in check, and more on the vehicles being financed themselves.