The $7.7 billion-asset federal credit union in East Lansing announced its third deal in as many months — the planned purchase of in-market peer Gabriels Community Credit Union. And it has two bank acquisitions pending.

Executives at Capital One, U.S. Bank, BMO and Atlantic Union Bank are striving for seamless onboarding and more efficient branch bankers, among other projects on their technology drawing boards.

There's a reason why successful bankers with long careers look back on their time spent as vice presidents as among the best of their working years.

The deal for SimplyBank, scheduled to be completed in the second quarter, would give First Financial in Terre Haute, Indiana, additional branches in Tennessee and its first presence in Georgia.

The future of financial services lies in collaboration between big banks and fintech, not conflict.

Bankers should stop thinking of small companies as difficult to serve, Comerica's Brian Haney says; "How does succeeding in small business make the retail bank stronger?"

The bank was recently sued by customers who say they were misled into thinking that their savings accounts were earning competitive rates. Capital One responded with a series of arguments for why the case should be thrown out.

A recent effort by Citigroup to nudge certain customers toward digital-only statements was well intended but too punitive, observers say. The key, they argue, for banks seeking to cut costs or achieve other goals is to offer incentives to those with ingrained habits.

In addition to expense-reduction measures, the Wisconsin-based regional bank is selling almost $2 billion of mortgages and securities and will invest in its lending and deposit-gathering capabilities.

Los Angeles-based Lendistry — in less than two years — became the largest Black-run 7(a) lender. Its CEO credits a concerted effort by the Small Business Administration to reach out to minority lenders and businesses, whose participation in the lending program is growing.

The bank has seen its balance sheet swell in recent years and this quarter could become the first U.S. bank to reach the $4 trillion mark. Analysts credit it as a well-run institution, but the megabank's growth is sure to play into ongoing debates over big-bank capital rules and "too big to fail."

The company missed revenue projections, and it's trying to tap other funding strategies amid a "difficult lending environment."

Proceeds from the sale provide the bank with "flexibility to evaluate and pursue various strategic initiatives to redeploy capital in support of our core banking business," Evans CEO David Nasca said.

As U.S. credit card balances continue to march above $1 trillion, the number of newly delinquent credit card users now exceeds the pre-pandemic average and millennials and those with student or auto loans are driving the increase in past-due payments, the New York Fed said.

A.E.A. Federal Credit Union in Yuma said it would acquire West Valley National Bank in a bid to expand into Phoenix and Las Vegas.

Longtime customers of Capital One's online banking arm thought they were getting the best possible rate, according to a lawsuit. Little did they realize, they say, that they needed to open a new account in order to benefit from interest rate increases.

Many banks tapped the brakes on mergers and acquisitions this year amid economic and regulatory challenges. But executives at banks with a history of dealmaking say conditions could be right for them to return to buying mode next year.

Months prior to its failure, Citizens Bank in Sac City had entered into a consent order with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and the Iowa Division of Banking due to problems in its portfolio of commercial trucking loans.

NCR Atleos and Diebold Nixdorf are signing deals that grant access to other industries and regions where there's demand for self-serve cash access — with additions such as artificial intelligence and better security.

Amazon's buy now/pay later partnership with Affirm expands; NAFCU-CUNA merger gets affirmative vote from members; expense-reporting firm Navan rolls out European bank partnerships; and more in the weekly banking news roundup.