Dennis Zember, Ameris' chief operating officer, was named CEO of the company's bank. Edwin Hortman Jr. will continue to run Ameris.

Bank of America is launching several upgrades to its mobile app meant to make the product more fun and essential to customers' daily lives. It is also expanding digital-only branches through which customers communicate with staff by video.

PNC's new consumer lending platform will be marketed on a national scale.

The $32 million purchase of Sunshine Financial will provide First Bancshares with its first branches in Tallahassee, Fla.

On Sep. 30, 2017. Dollars in thousands.

On Sep. 30, 2017. Dollars in thousands.

Bigger rivals are making inroads into small banks' bread-and-butter business line, yet the leaders of three community banks say they just need to keep doing what they do best — personal service — but work harder at it and incorporate new technology.

The key, experts say, is ensuring that staff makes members understand the reasoning behind the changes and making them feel like a part of the process.

After two century-old community institutions merged in 2010, they never suspected it would take seven years before their operating systems got along.

In our quest to solidify and improve customer satisfaction, we should not set up systems that have our teams more focused on manipulating scores than actually earning them.

Critics argue that the consumer bureau's independence is being undermined, and they worry that a precedent is being established that could hamper the autonomy of other U.S. financial regulators.

The Tennessee company also set high expectations for revenue opportunities while projecting it will deliver a 15% return on equity in 2019.

Washington State Employees Credit Union has reduced staff by attrition by 16 percent since 2013, saving enough money to pay the costs of modernizing at least one branch.

Eagle Bancorp vigorously defended itself after a potential short seller made claims of dubious insider dealings, pushing back harder than many banks have in the past.

Recent growth has come through acquisitions, including the 2015 purchase of a transportation finance business from General Electric and the 2011 takeover of Milwaukee-based Marshall & Ilsley.

The 2018 gubernatorial race will be watched closely both by bankers and consumer advocates to see whether Cordray's leadership of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau becomes a campaign asset or a liability.

The company agreed to buy TCSB Bancorp, the parent of Traverse City State Bank, for $63 million.

Colonial Savings founder James S. DuBose died after a yearlong battle with cancer. He was 93.

The Small Business Credit Availability Act aims to double the debt-to-equity ratio for business development companies. Increased leverage could spur more lending to small and midsize borrowers.

Teaching kids the CU difference, keeping first responders safe, hosting international visitors and other ways credit unions are giving back to the communities they serve.