San Bernardino County is weighing a controversial plan to use eminent domain to modify underwater mortgages, even as the county’s largest city seeks bankruptcy.

A fraud case that contributed to the recent failure of Montgomery Bank in Georgia could lead to more regulatory scrutiny when community banks look for outside investors.

Wells Fargo — the nation's largest funder of home mortgages through loan brokers — is calling it quits on wholesale lending, dealing yet another devastating blow to this struggling origination channel.

Commerce Bancshares in Kansas City, Mo., reported second-quarter income of $74.3 million, up more than 7% from a year earlier, as credit quality continued to improve.

Wells Fargo (WFC), the largest U.S. mortgage lender, will pay $125 million to settle federal claims it violated fair-lending laws, according to a person with direct knowledge of the agreement.

Lenders are notifying more delinquent homeowners they face foreclosure, a step toward clearing a backlog of properties and helping to accelerate a housing recovery, according to RealtyTrac.

Georgetown Bancorp in Massachusetts has raised $11 million and completed its conversion to a stock-owned firm from a mutual holding company.

GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo. – Bellco CU celebrated its newly relocated downtown Denver branch with a grand opening this week, the third branch opened by the $2-billion credit union so far this year.

TULSA, Okla. – Oklahoma Central CU celebrated its new headquarters and branch Tuesday at the former site of the historic Camelot Hotel, which was torn down nearly five years ago.

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Affinity Plus FCU has rolled out a new branch format that it said transforms member service reps into “multi-purpose member advisors.”

A new museum exhibit chronicles the history of New York's banking scene.

Vintage Bancorp, in Leon, Kan., on Wednesday canceled its deal for CornerBank, in Winfield, Kan.

San Bernardino County is forging ahead with deliberations on a proposal to seize underwater mortgages, despite its largest city's decision to seek bankruptcy. But industry members say the bankruptcy could interrupt funding for the plan.

The pace of bank mergers slowed in the second quarter, but deal announcements still rose about 15% in the first half from a year earlier, according to SNL Financial.

An unsolicited offer by PacWest added jet fuel to the shares of First California, strengthening its hand in a takeover deal of its own and bolstering management's effort to stay independent.

Dozens of small banks have substantially increased commercial and industrial lending over the past few years. Supervisors are worried that some may be chasing unfamiliar business down a blind alley.

The nation's largest credit union is pushing loan participations, which could help credit unions make more loans despite existing regulatory caps.

International Bancshares (IBOC) in Laredo, Texas, has repurchased $40 million of preferred stock that it issued to the Treasury Department under the Troubled Asset Relief Program.

ProAmérica Bank (PMRA) in Los Angeles has named a 25-year banking veteran as its president and chief executive after a yearlong search.

Members of the GOP-controlled House once again debated the impact — and potential pitfalls — of a section of the Dodd-Frank Act, with the subject du jour concerning so-called QM regulation.