Kentucky

The company will add a representative of Stilwell Group to its board. The investment firm, which has long criticized HopFed's leadership and strategy, agreed to support the company's recommendations at future annual meetings.

The credit union is Kentucky's largest and has experienced more than two decades of steady growth.

President and CEO Wendell Lyons will retire early next year, to be succeeded by current EVP Debbie Painter. Both have spent approximately four decades in the movement.

The credit union's deal for American Founders Bank would be the third credit union acquisition of a bank this year.

HopFed was ordered to pay the legal fees for Stilwell Group, which sued the bank after its directors passed a bylaw intended to keep the investor off its board.

Stilwell Group, an activist investor, is alleging that HopFed chief John Peck bought two properties from the then-chairman of the Kentucky company's compensation committee and that the deals were a conflict of interest.

Independent members of HopFed Bancorp's board sent a letter to Joseph Stilwell complaining that their largest investor had rebuffed several efforts by CEO John Peck to schedule a meeting.

Mark Schroeder has led the Jasper, Ind., company to six straight years of record profit by sticking to a simple model that emphasizes relationship banking and small, strategic acquisitions.

The largest shareholder at HopFed Bancorp in Hopkinsville, Ky., is calling on the company's president and chief executive to resign.

Some bankers are proud of making it through the financial crisis. Imagine doing that while also contending with a huge personal crisis. Karen Glenn, the chief executive of a Kentucky community bank, is a single mom of twin boys. She had just made it through a major health issue with one of her sons, when the other was diagnosed with cancer.

Farmers Capital Bank in Frankfort, Ky., has announced a plan to restructure its balance sheet.

Scott Conway's resignation from the $292 million-asset bank took effect Aug. 29, according to a regulatory filing issued on Thursday by the bank's holding company, Farmers Capital Bank Corp. in Frankfort, Ky.

Career development/training program: Employees receive a gold coin each time Independences adds another $100 million in assets. Accumulating 10 coins gets an employee a chance to go to Disney World for three days of training in customer service excellence.

Popular with employees: Once a month United Community hosts a potluck to celebrate employees' birthdays.

Activity to relieve stress/promote fun: Employees participated in a six-week cooking class hosted at one Kentucky Farmers Bank location that has a full kitchen. The cost was minimal for employees to participate, and the instructor showed attendees how to prepare dishes in a healthier way.

Popular with employees: Employees can get interest-free loans to buy computers and fitness equipment.

Farmers Capital Bank in Frankfort, Ky., will consolidate its four banks under a single charter.

PNC Financial Services Group has been named the official bank of the University of Kentucky, its 50th such partnership with a college or university.

Porter Bancorp in Louisville, Ky., used part of $5 million it raised in a private placement to become current on interest payments on some debt holdings.

Commerce Union Bancshares in Brentwood, Tenn., plans to close mortgage offices in Ohio, Illinois and Kentucky and to transfer the employees to Bridgeview Bank Group in Bridgeview, Ill.