Equity Bancshares in Wichita, Kan., is planning to raise up to $36 million through an initial public offering.

The New York company took investors on a roller coaster ride over a dozen years, with issues that included a CEO's death, another leader's ambitious M&A strategy, and an ill-timed effort to upgrade outdated technology.

While executives are eager to put excess capital to work, the sell-off of KeyCorp stock following the announcement of the First Niagara deal shows investors will react swiftly — and severely — when it appears a buyer has overpaid.

The Royal Bank of Scotland Group has completed its divestment of Citizens Financial of Providence, R.I.

The $815 million-asset company said in a press release Friday that it will close locations in Ilwaco and Ferndale in western Washington.

Wells Fargo is ready to recruit more than 200 brokers from Credit Suisse's U.S. private banking unit set to close early next year, with the Swiss bank's blessing.

First Citizens Bancshares in Raleigh, N.C., reported an improvement in third-quarter profit thanks to the benefits of M&A and organic growth.

Berkshire Hills Bancorp in Pittsfield, Mass., has agreed to buy a unit from Parke Bancorp in Washington Township, N.J., that focuses on Small Business Administration loans.

KeyCorp, Ohio's second-largest bank, has agreed to buy First Niagara Financial Group Inc. in a $4.1 billion cash-and-stock deal that extends the company's reach in upstate New York.

KeyCorp's deal to buy First Niagara is a return to significant M&A for a company that has long been content to stay on the sidelines. But getting such a deal approved is tougher than ever, and will test Beth Mooney’s regulatory juice.

October saw the three main card networks invest in bitcoin-related companies, which comes on the heels of major banks exploring the use of bitcoin and blockchain technology to solve some industry pain points.

New York Community has long wanted a deal to push it over $50 billion of assets. While Astoria accomplishes that, it does little to diversify New York Community's geography or reduce its reliance on multifamily lending.

Bank of America in Charlotte, N.C., is selling 23 branches in West Coast states. The bank also plans to sell a total of $1.2 billion in deposits and $821,000 in loans to TriCo Bancshares in Chico, Calif.; Bank of Commerce Holdings in Redding, Calif.; and Cascade Bancorp in Bend, Ore.

The speculation is over and a deal has been announced. How will the regulatory process play out? What will the branch network look like? These questions are more are worth asking as New York Community takes the next few months to shore up support for this $2 billion acquisition.

KeyCorp is in advanced talks to buy First Niagara Financial, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Spencer Savings Bank and Southbridge Savings Bank in Massachusetts have agreed to merge in a combination of mutual thrifts in the Worcester, Mass., area.

MB Financial in Chicago has agreed to buy an asset management firm.

Santander Consumer USA Holdings plans to exit personal lending and focus primarily on its auto-finance business.

New York Community Bancorp has agreed to buy Astoria Financial for about $2 billion in cash and stock, combining two of the largest New York-area banks to create an institution with about $64 billion in total assets.

Mercantile Bank in Grand Rapids, Mich., plans to close five branches to cut costs. The $2.9 billion-asset company said in a press release Wednesday that it plans to close the branches in the first quarter.