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

First Security Bank of Malta in Montana has been freed from a prompt corrective action issued by the Federal Reserve Board.

Banks are preaching the importance of getting low-cost deposits on their books now, ahead of new Basel liquidity rules, and the impending rise of interest rates.

These deals are hard to put together but are well worth it -- if management teams can get through the problems of working together. Sterne Agee's Michael Barry and Daryle DiLascia explain.

Baltimore County Savings Bank's 16 branches will officially open next week as branches of First National Bank of Hermitage, Pa.

Buyers used to win banks in pricey, unpredictable auctions. Now they have to be friendly masters of the negotiating table.

Federal authorities on Friday took their most forceful step to date toward bringing state-licensed marijuana businesses into the financial mainstream.

The California company ended three years of loan runoff after expanding into San Diego and adding managers for its agribusiness, construction and mortgage operations. What it would really like to do next is find the perfect acquisition.

Community banks are facing mounting competition from bigger companies, regulators and consulting firms as they try to staff up in their compliance departments. American Banker editors discuss how small banks can compete for the best compliance personnel and what they should be looking for in potential new hires.

A group that advocates for more women on corporate boards has honored Royal Bank of Canada and KeyCorp (KEY) Chief Executive Beth Mooney for promoting diversity within their ranks.

Bond Street Holdings in Weston, Fla., plans to close four of the 25 branches it acquired from Great Florida Bank in Miami Lakes.

A Maine bill to thwart predatory online lenders is moving to the full state legislature with the unanimous support of the state's Insurance and Financial Services Committee.

Bank of America Corp., the second-largest U.S. lender, is cutting 450 mortgage jobs from West Coast offices after new loans fell short of internal forecasts, two people with direct knowledge of the plans said.

The former bank analyst is striking out on his own after shutting down an investment firm he co-founded with banker Vernon Hill.

GSE regulator says Fannie and Freddie are responsible for monitoring servicers.

There are plenty of reasons why small banks may be reluctant to amp up their social media presence. But this week's bad weather illustrates how these platforms can provide a real value-add.

Douglas Biddle has succeeded Denise Portmann as CFO at Bank of the Pacific, the $705 million-asset company said in a press release Thursday.

First Trust in New Orleans has been freed from a written agreement with the Federal Reserve Board.

North Shore Bank in Peabody, Mass., has agreed to merge with Saugusbank in Saugus, Mass.

Peoples Financial Services in Scranton, Pa., reported a fourth-quarter loss tied to its merger with Penseco Financial Services. The $1.7 billion-asset company lost $2.8 million in the quarter, compared to Penseco's $2.7 million in profit a year earlier.