Americas

The $973 million-asset bank will build one of its first stand-alone branches this year in Fairway, Kan., in the metro Kansas City area. Most of Academy's 88 branches are located inside Walmart stores.

Severn Bancorp in Annapolis, Md., has agreements in place to raise $11 million through a private placement of common stock.

First Horizon National in Memphis, Tenn., reported improved quarterly earnings that reflected higher revenue.

Beneficial Bancorp in Philadelphia is planning to eliminate 11% of its workforce over the next three months.

Regions Financial in Birmingham, Ala., posted a double-digit gain in its first-quarter profit as strong revenue growth more than offset continued deterioration in its energy-loan portfolio.

Community Bank in Pasadena, Calif., has promoted from within to fill the positions of president and chief banking officer.

David Bohne was the president of a big, successful bank until he took a year off to clear his head. When he was ready to return, he looked at banks across the country but found what he needed in a small, family-run institution right in his hometown.

Washington Federal in Seattle said its profit rose 3.4% to $41.7 million in the three months that ended March 31 as loan growth outweighed higher information technology costs.

West Shore Bank Corp. in Ludington, Mich., has agreed to buy West Michigan Bank & Trust in Frankfort.

B of A is normally thought of as a U.S. economic bellwether, but it has substantial operations overseas, and its international performance last quarter provided a painful reminder of that fact.