North Carolina

Plenty of banks have ended their federal loss-share deals early, but despite the incentives to wind them down, plenty more still have these crisis-era arrangements in place. It may be due to varying deadlines, mistakes calculating loan values or worries that they still might need the coverage for home equity lines.

Park Sterling in Charlotte, N.C., has negotiated an early termination of loss-share agreements with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. for about $15.5 million in assets.

Make it three in a row for Live Oak Bank. Initiatives like "Live Oak U" help explain why this bank has topped our list of the best places to work for three years running.

Popular with employees: Employees dress up for the Halloween costume contest, and children of employees and customers trick-or-treat at the bank during business hours.

F.N.B. in Pittsburgh plans to retain some Yadkin Financial executives and assign them to key roles after it closes its purchase of the North Carolina bank.

Southern First Bank in Greenville, S.C., and Five Star Bank in Warsaw, N.Y., are entering new markets.

A BB&T unit that finances power equipment has a new president.

First Citizens BancShares in Raleigh, N.C., reported higher quarterly profit that reflected a couple of one-time gains.

First South Bancorp in Washington, N.C., has acquired a portfolio of mortgage servicing rights.

BNC Bancorp in High Point, N.C., plans to raise about $55 million through a common stock offering.

North Carolina's second-biggest community bank agreed to sell itself at a rich premium, signaling that the state has become an attractive market for acquirers. Adding an out-of-state bank could also create opportunities for *locals* to poach business.

F.N.B. Corp. in Pittsburgh is making a big play to enter North Carolina.

Even absent a rate hike, executives believe that the banking giant can still improve profits by hitting this expense target.

Gov. Pat McCrory on Wednesday signed the North Carolina Money Transmitters Act, as requested by the state banking commissioner's office.

North Carolina has lost more than 40% of its banks in the past decade, creating a new tier of larger institutions. More deals are expected to occur, raising questions about the pace of M&A and the fate of those bigger banks.

The Charlotte, N.C., company on Thursday appointed Michael White, former chairman and chief executive at DirecTV, effective immediately.

First Bancorp in Southern Pines, N.C., has agreed to buy Carolina Bank Holdings for $97.3 million, or $19.26, in cash and stock.

First Citizens BancShares in Raleigh, N.C., has terminated five of its nine loss-share agreements with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.

The $3.2 billion-asset Park Sterling announced this week that it will hire four commercial and industrial bankers from the $2.3 billion-asset CommunityOne Bancorp to help expand its commercial banking team in the Charlotte metropolitan area.

First South Bancorp survived a close vote on a shareholder proposal to "immediately" take steps to sell the Washington, N.C., company.