Georgia

Under a consent order with Texas and seven other states, the Atlanta-based credit reporting firm agreed to shore up its information security efforts, but it will not have to pay any financial penalties.

The retired CEO of 1st Choice Credit Union and CU of Atlanta has been named the 2018 recipient of the Pete Crear Lifetime Achievement Award from the African-American Credit Union Coalition.

Cadence first discussed a deal with the Atlanta target four years ago. But negotiations picked up steam once it was clear State Bank had another suitor.

Charter One wanted to sell itself quickly because it feared valuations had peaked, and CenterState was able to beat other potential suitors to the punch.

Ameris Bancorp said that Edwin Hortman will step down as president and CEO in July but will continue as chairman.

Brand Group in Georgia was mulling a public offering but it opted to test the waters as a seller first. That decision led to one of the biggest bank deals announced this year.

A lack of talent, capital and good business planning proved fatal for bank organizers in California and Georgia.

The company has also hit its goal of having half of total loans tied to customers around Atlanta.

State Bank popped up on the Houston company’s radar eight years ago, but management waited until now to strike.

The Houston company had been an interested, but selective, acquirer before announcing this year's biggest bank deal.