Americas

CoBank in Denver has completed its merger with U.S. AgBank in Wichita, Kan., creating an $85 billion cooperative bank in the Farm Credit System.

Two acquirers tied up some loose ends Friday as the yearend approached.

Umpqua Bank in Portland, Ore., has become the latest bank to be sued for allegedly manipulating the way in which it processed debit card transactions in order to rake in more overdraft fees.

HomeTrust Bank in Asheville, N.C., will convert from a mutual thrift to a stock-owned bank in order to raise capital for future organic growth and possible acquisitions within North Carolina.

Concerned about robberies, Chappell Hill Bank began encouraging patrons to bring legally concealed weapons into its branch. Now the bank's unconventional CEO needs to find ways to bring in loans and reduce costs to ensure long-term survival.

NexBank Capital Inc. in Dallas has raised roughly $20 million in fresh capital this year after recently completing a stock sale to group of investors.

Security Federal Corp. in Aiken, S.C.. has reorganized as a bank holding company and its subsidiary, Security Federal Bank, has converted from a federally chartered thrift to a state-regulated commercial bank.

Pinnacle Financial Partners Inc. in Nashville, Tenn., has moved a step closer toward exiting the Troubled Asset Relief Program.

Continuing to bulk up in Texas through bite-sized deals, Independent Bank Group Inc. in McKinney said this week that it is buying the $155 million-asset I Bank Texas in Austin.

NB&T Financial Group Inc. in Wilmington, Ohio, said it expects fourth-quarter provision for loan losses to be "substantially" higher than it was last quarter due to a likely default on a loan to a single commercial customer that has $1 million balance.