Illinois

The Illinois company will sell Bates Cos. to an undisclosed buyer less than two years after buying the wealth management firm.

Members of Maryland-based GEICO Federal Credit Union are set to vote on whether to merge into Illinois-based Baxter Credit Union.

Members of Andigo Credit Union in Schaumburg, Ill., have approved a proposed merger into Consumers Credit Union in Gurnee, Ill.

Recent proposals considered or passed by legislatures around the country grant banks certain exemptions, but they differ from state to state and may pose new compliance headaches.

The company agreed to acquire Alliance Benefit Group of Illinois, which has more than 600 clients and 40,000 plan participants.

Timothy Crane is set to succeed Ed Wehmer as president, though Wehmer will remain the Illinois company's CEO.

Organizers of First Women's Bank have also filled two key executive posts.

Even in the face of soft loan demand, banks in the region have held firm on terms. That should position them well for the next economic downturn.

Though there were several high-profile mergers of equals among bigger banks, deal activity rose only slightly, and the vast majority of transactions involved the smallest of institutions. Here's an overview of those trends and others that stood out in bank dealmaking last year.

Collins Community Credit Union has agreed to buy First Savanna Savings Bank.

Tri County Financial will pay an undisclosed amount for H.F. Gehant Bancorp.

SmartChoice Credit Union, which holds less than $1 million in assets, has been penalized for failing to properly complete FinCEN searches.

The company could raise as much as $158 million by selling shares to the public.

A deal to join the Illinois- and Maine-based institutions was called off because of differences that came up during the due diligence process.

FWBank would be led by Marianne Markowitz, former acting SBA director. Amy Fahey, a former JPMorgan Chase executive, would serve as chairman.

Nearly a tenth of the industry’s deals this year were connected to the state, which boasts a good number of sought-after small banks.

Both banks focus on the Chinese-American community.

The merger of Cornerstone Community Credit Union into the Moline, Ill.-based Vibrant is expected to close on Oct. 1.

Asset Recovery Associates told borrowers that it could sue them, garnish their wages and place liens against their homes, according to a consent order by the consumer bureau.

The company will pay $195 million for its first retail operations in the city.