Americas

A bankruptcy judge's decision to lower breakup fees in the auction of Metropolitan National gives Simmons First and others a chance at unseating stalking horse Ford Financial. The results could encourage more interest in bidding for bank units of bankrupt holding companies.

The Federal Reserve System has taken regulatory action against Union City Corp. in El Reno, Okla., and released a Missouri holding company and its banking unit from a written agreement.

Iberiabank Corp. (IBKC) in Layfayette, La., has agreed to buy Synovus Financial (SNV) operations in Memphis.

F.N.B. Corp. (FNB) in Pittsburgh has launched the first fund from its new small-business investment company.

Standard Financial (STND) in Monroeville, Pa., plans to delist from the Nasdaq and cease reporting with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

HomeStreet (HMST) in Seattle has expanded its mortgage business in the Golden State, opening six offices in Northern and Central California.

City Holding (CHCO) in Charleston, W.Va., said it will close a branch in Virginia Beach after determining that the location had an undesirable deposit mix.

Frank and George Hamlin at Canandaigua National are turning letter writing into an art form as they rail against a wave of new bank regulation.

Old National Bancorp (ONB) in Evansville, Ind., has agreed to sell two branches in Indiana: one to MainSource Financial, and one to River Valley Bancorp.

Avidbank in Palo Alto, Calif., said that Kenneth Brenner will step down as president to become head of strategic relationships. Ronald Oliveria, Abidbank's chief credit officer, will succeed Brenner. The bank also made Dori Hamilton its chief banking officer.