First Bancorp in Southern Pines, N.C., has agreed to buy Bankingpoint, an insurance agency in Sanford, N.C.

Under the direction of Richard Holbrook, Eastern Bank has prepared itself for the next 200 years by embracing a culture innovation, adding scale through acquisitions and advocating for the less fortunate in its community. It's an unusual formula, but it has worked and that's why he is one of American Banker's three Community Bankers of the Year for 2015.

HomeStreet in Seattle has bought a branch in Dayton, Wash., from Banner Corp. in Walla Walla, Wash.

Global Payments and Heartland Payment Systems have a chance to create an international powerhouse focused on small to medium sized business, restaurant and education payments, if they can meld their technology post-acquisition and retain Heartland's management.

Customers Bancorp in Wyomissing, Pa., has agreed to buy the disbursements business of Higher One Holdings in New Haven, Conn.

An interbank loan market that was created for small and regional banks has begun operations, recording $15 million in transactions on its first day.

A breakdown of M&A announcements in the financial services industry for the week ended December 12.

Dave Seleski founded Stonegate in 2005 and the decade since has built it into one of Florida's best-performing banks through a combination of prudent lending and opportunistic buying. Now he's got his sights set on Cuba and playing a key role in bringing that country's economy into the 21st century.

Eastern Bank in Boston has agreed to buy a health care insurance brokerage firm from Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance in Milwaukee.

Frandsen Financial in Arden Hills, Minn., has agreed to buy Provincial Corp. in Lakeville, Minn.

Associates of Glen Falls Insurance said that it bought Loomis & LaPann, an insurance unit of Arrow Financial that focuses on amateur sports, for an undisclosed price.

Under Jill Castilla, the once-sleepy Citizens has been transformed into a thoroughly modern institution that has become a model for other small banks trying to stay relevant in an increasingly competitive financial services marketplace. For that reason and more, she is one of American Banker's three community bankers of the year.

Salisbury Bancorp. in Lakeville, Conn., has issued $10 million in subordinated debt and plans to exit the Small Business Lending Fund.

First United Bancorp in Madisonville, Ky., has agreed to buy Town & Country Financial in Beaver Dam, Ky.

Community bank executives are wary about the year ahead. Cybersecurity threats, the real possibility of even tighter margins after the Federal Reserve acts, and compliance woes are among their concerns.

The regulatory red lines of $10 billion and $50 billion affect banks well before they pass them, and add to the pressure to buy or sell, says FIG Partners analyst Chris Marinac.

Webster Financial has agreed to take over the leases of 14 Citigroup branches in the Boston area, which would more than triple its retail presence there.

Anchor Bancorp in Lacey, Wash., has named an accountant to its board, to settle a dispute with an activist investor.

Strong financials were an important consideration behind the $1 billion merger, but it often takes more than good numbers to compel Korean-American banks to merge. Hanmi Financial found that out the hard way after its unsolicited bid for BBCN largely fell on deaf ears.

Fear is one causing many small banks to sell, says FIG Partners analyst Chris Marinac. Deals will likely be slow in the early going next year but pick up as the spring begins.