Americas

Atlantic Coast Financial Corp. in Jacksonville, Fla., said in a regulatory filing last week that Robert J. Larison Jr. is retiring as its chief operating officer.

Happy Bancshares Inc. in Canyon, Texas, has agreed to acquire Signature Bancshares Inc. in Dallas.

First M&F Corp. in Kosciusko, Miss., is looking to shed six branches, or roughly 14% of its offices.

Opus Bank, Irvine, Calif., hired Michael L. Allison as chief credit officer and executive vice president.

Continuing a wave of consolidation among California community banks, AltaPacific Bancorp in Santa Rosa said late Wednesday that it is buying Stellar Business Bank in Covina for $17.4 million in stock.

Led by energy, and bolstered by a diversifying economy, the Texas metropolis is drawing a wave of new banks to vie with the city's incumbents.

Simone Lagomarsino reflects on the divisive debate on whether credit unions should be allowed to raise capital. Backers view such a move as a necessity for struggling credit unions, while detractors worry that it could cost the industry its tax-exempt status.

Simone Lagomarsino took the helm of Heritage Oaks in Paso Robles, Calif., on Monday. The veteran banker has a long track record of selling banks, but says she is here to build value.

In what would be its first whole-bank acquisition since 2008, Prosperity Bancshares Inc. in Houston has announced plans to buy the $72 million-asset Texas Bankers Inc. in Austin.

First Merchants Corp. in Muncie, Ind., used a regulatory filing Tuesday to disclose the names of the two private equity firms that participated in a recent private placement of common stock.