The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and Office of the Comptroller of the Currency issued proposals to update their bank merger review guidelines, but public comments reflect radically different attitudes from stakeholders about how high the bar to mergers should be.

During the nine years Kevin Riley led the Billings, Montana-based institution, it quadrupled its size, largely through deals. New leadership could mean that the company focuses less on M&A and more on integration.

Senate Banking Committee chair Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, is the latest progressive to express some skepticism on the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency's merger review, especially when compared to the relatively stricter Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. version.

MC Bancshares and Heritage NOLA Bancorp announced plans to combine in 2023, but the companies called off the deal after difficulties securing approvals. It amplified what an analyst called the "ever-present risk" of examiner scrutiny.

The bank said it would reduce its physical footprint by nearly 15% as part of an effort to reduce overlapping operations, drive cost savings and meet profitability targets tied to its May acquisition of Lakeland Bancorp.

Dickinson Financial in Missouri has no intention of departing from its expansionary mindset as it lays plans for de novo branches and scouts new acquisition opportunities.

ELGA Credit Union said it plans to acquire Marine Bank & Trust in an all-cash deal. The combination marks the 12th of the year involving a credit union buying a bank, keeping the industry on pace to establish a new record for such deals.

The Indiana bank said it struck a $40 million cash deal to sell its insurance brokerage to the Hilb Group. It joined a growing number of lenders announcing such transactions.

Atlanta Postal Credit Union's bid to acquire Affinity Bank marked the 11th deal overall this year involving a credit union buying a bank, matching the total for all of 2023. Separately, members voted against the merger of two credit unions in Indiana.

Gesa Credit Union in Washington agreed to acquire a 103-year-old community bank in Centralia, as it eyes opportunities for additional growth in the Pacific Northwest. In the District of Columbia, a bank group is calling for exit fees on banks selling to tax-exempt credit unions.

New York Community Bank's acquisition of the failed Signature Bank helped with its liquidity. But there were other considerations that decisionmakers overlooked in allowing the transaction to take place.

There were significant red flags that regulators overlooked when allowing New York Community Bank to acquire Signature Bank. Those include the fact that the company was still integrating the Flagstar Bank transaction.

SouthState Corp. plans to purchase Independent Bank Group in a $2 billion deal, marking an end to the latter bank's long run of buying companies. Chairman and CEO David Brooks pointed to a challenging interest rate environment and heightened regulatory scrutiny as reasons he decided to sell.

In this week's edition of the American Banker news quiz, see how well you know current items about the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, mergers and acquisitions, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and more.

Irvine-based CBC Bancorp's $121 million deal for Bay Community Bancorp in Oakland stands out at a time when high rates have put a damper on both the number of deals taking place and the multiples sellers are paying.

West Coast Community Bancorp agreed to acquire 1st Capital Bancorp in an all-stock deal slated to close in the fourth quarter.

The Florida-based bank, which has been expanding across the South, would enter major markets such as Dallas and Houston with its planned all-stock acquisition of Independent Bank Group.

Pima Federal Credit Union in Tucson plans to buy Republic Bank of Arizona in a cash transaction slated to close in the second half of this year. It's the ninth deal in 2024 in which a whole bank would sell itself to a credit union.

UMB Financial, Fulton Financial and Provident Financial Services have recently announced capital raises in connection with M&A deals. "They're setting a precedent," one consultant said.

The utility, under financial pressure following its involvement in the 2023 fires that ravaged Maui, reportedly is considering a sale of its profitable American Savings Banking unit. An executive declined to "speculate on any strategic transactions or alternatives."