Bankwell Financial Group in New Canaan, Conn., has hired a new chief strategy officer.

M&T Bank in Buffalo, N.Y., reported a higher quarterly profit as lower expenses offset tighter margins.

Regions Financial in Birmingham, Ala., reported a lower fourth-quarter profit because interest rates squeezed lending margins and mortgage-related revenue fell.

A Wall Street lobbying group said President Barack Obama's plan to raise $110 billion over the next decade through a new tax on financial companies could stifle economic growth and make banks less likely to lend.

Many community banks will soon have to replace outdated technology — expenses that will hit them in an ongoing environment of compressed net interest margins, increasing compliance costs and higher capital requirements.

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency closed First National Bank of Crestview in Florida on Friday, marking this year's first bank failure.

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Associated Banc-Corp in Green Bay, Wis., has agreed to buy Ahmann & Martin, a benefits consulting firm in Edina, Minn.

The Ocwen spinoff Altisource Portfolio Services delivered notices to more than 800 employees and hundreds of contractors this week as part of the company's scramble to reassure investors.

CMS Bancorp in White Plains, N.Y., is working through a material weakness unearthed by a recent audit.

Add hiring a new chief financial officer to Doral Financial's growing list of headaches. The $8 billion-asset San Juan, Puerto Rico, company disclosed in a regulatory filing Friday that Nancy Reinhard will resign as acting CFO and principal accounting officer.

The Federal Trade Commission announced its largest-ever payday lending settlement on Friday, as two companies agreed to pay $21 million and waive another $285 million in charges that were never collected from customers.

Sunflower Financial in Salina, Kan., has canceled its planned purchase of First Western Financial in Denver. The $1.7 billion-asset Sunflower had agreed in September to buy the $688 million-asset First Financial.

The past year was a bit of slog for most regional banks and, if fourth-quarter results are any indication of what's ahead, then 2015 isn't looking much better.

New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman is proposing legislation to strengthen data security laws to protect consumers from having their personal data stolen.

Ten financial institutions, including four banks, will accept the new IDNYC card as a primary form of identification for new accounts. Community advocates hope the move will help more immigrants and unbanked individuals use banking products.

WASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve announced the formation of a federal advisory council to examine and advise the board on matters related to community and consumer affairs.

Franklin Financial Network in Franklin, Tenn., has filed for a $50 million initial public offering.

A recap of the informed opinions (and the discussions they generated) on BankThink this week.

Republic Bancorp in Louisville, Ky., reported a quadrupling in profit due to higher interest income and lower expenses during the fourth quarter of 2014.