Astoria Financial, a New York City- area thrift under pressure from activist investor Basswood Capital Management to boost the share price, is exploring a sale, according to people familiar with the matter.

Old National is taking advantage of low interest rates by buying more than a dozen branches in solid real estate markets. An expected accounting rule change could encourage more banks to do the same.

Quarterly profits fell slightly at Umpqua Holdings in Portland, Ore., because of fewer proceeds from loan sales, tighter margins and other factors.

The Bancorp in Wilmington, Del., has agreed to sell most of its health-savings account portfolio to HealthEquity in Draper, Utah.

Regions Financial in Birmingham, Ala., has acquired BlackArch Partners, a Charlotte, N.C., firm that handles M&A for middle-market companies.

Anchor Bancorp in Lacey, Wash., could eventually sell itself after reaching a truce with an activist investor.

Level One Bancorp in Farmington Hills, Mich., has agreed to buy Bank of Michigan in Farmington Hills. Level One said it will pay $17 a share in cash for the $110 million-asset Bank of Michigan. The deal is expected to close in the first quarter.

Heartland Financial USA is Dubuque, Iowa, has agreed to buy CIC Bancshares in Denver.

Nasdaq has acquired SecondMarket Solutions, a New York software-as-a-service provider that focuses on helping companies prepare for an IPO.

Ameriana Bancorp in New Castle, Ind., has agreed to sell its Ameriana Insurance Agency to Pfenninger, Claxton and Estelle Insurance Group for nearly $2 million.

The decision to terminate a shared-loss agreement with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. boosted third-quarter profits at East West Bancorp in Pasadena, Calif.

Beneficial Bancorp in Philadelphia has agreed to buy Conestoga Bancorp in Chester Springs, Pa.

Community & Southern Holdings in Atlanta used private equity to buy 14 banks over six years. The time had come to become a seller and give those investors an opportunity to eventually cash out.

Washington Federal in Seattle reported higher profit in its fiscal fourth quarter, citing a record level of commercial loan originations.

OnDeck Capital, Lending Club, Funding Circle and Kabbage in the last week have all announced moves designed to boost their loan volumes.

The Georgia company is ready to return to buying banks, but it isn’t looking for a game changer. Rather, management wants to ease into consolidation by acquiring a smaller institution.

First Partners Bank in Birmingham, Ala., and Highlands Bancorp in Vernon, N.J., have both issued subordinated debt, as part of their plans to exit the Small Business Lending Fund program.

Regal Bank in Livingston, N.J., isn’t letting its privately held status deter it from pursuing acquisitions.

Profits fell at New York Community Bancorp in Westbury, N.Y., as it continued to manage its balance sheet to stay below a key regulatory threshold.

Southern BancShares in Mount Olive, N.C., has agreed to buy Heritage Bankshares in Norfolk, Va.