Bank of the Ozarks (OZRK) of Little Rock, Ark., has agreed to buy Summit Bancorp in Arkadelphia, Ark.

As operating costs rise, a growing number of community banks are following the lead of larger rivals by shuttering branches, though analysts hope the pace of closures will accelerate.

Beneficial Mutual Bancorp (BNCL) reported lower net income that still managed to meet Wall Street expectations.

Lenders are loosening underwriting standards for nearly every type of credit except for some home equity lines, according to a report issued Thursday by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

Microsoft is scheduled to stop supporting Windows XP, the operating system inside most ATMs, on April 8. Diebold chief executive Andy Mattes weighs in on the impact to the industry.

The New York bank won $25,000 and two tickets to the big game being held nearby this Sunday because of its charity efforts -- and then donated it all to charity.

Central Pacific Financial (CPF) in Honolulu reported a big decline in fourth-quarter earnings as income from sales of residential mortgage loans and sales of foreclosed assets plunged.

First Interstate BancSystem (FIBK) in Billings, Mont., turned credit-quality improvements into a big increase in earnings last quarter.

Big banks have discovered that mobile banking is their best bet for combating deep consumer distrust and rampant turnover. Small banks can overcome their lock on mobile by playing up the strengths of their existing business model.

United Bankshares (UBSI) in Charleston, W.Va., saw earnings fall as fee income took a dive last quarter.

Amazon.com is developing a person-to-person payments system that would compete against the likes of PayPal, according to a job listing on the e-commerce company's website.

The number of completed foreclosures in the U.S. dropped 24 percent last year, compared to 2012, according to a report from CoreLogic.

UConn women's basketball coach Geno Auriemma will remain a spokesman for the Massachusetts bank, which summoned a minor league baseball exec from the bullpen to fill the open board seat.

Private student loans are an asset class that has been a solid performer. There are few better ways to invest in the rebuilding of America than investing in our children and providing the means for a college education.

Visa posted fiscal first-quarter profit that beat analysts' estimates as card spending climbed. Net income for the three months ended Dec. 31 rose 8.8 percent to $1.41 billion, or $2.20 a share, from $1.29 billion, or $1.93, a year earlier.

Prosperity Bancshares (PB) in Houston is rearranging a number of its management posts.

CenterState Banks (CSFL) in Davenport, Fla., has agreed to buy First Southern Bancorp (FSOF) in Boca Raton, Fla.

Community banks are still struggling to regain their financial footing following the drying up of mortgage refinancings. But quarterly results are providing some glimmers of hope. Here are the highs and lows from the nearly 200 community banks that have reported so far.

Banks should devote more attention to big data, cloud computing and other high-tech tools that will help expand revenue and less time on cost cutting and other short-term gains.

Astorial Financial (AF) in Lake Success, N.Y., reported higher quarterly profits because of improved credit quality.