Americas

The $1.5 billion-asset bank issued $25 million of subordinated notes due 2025 in a private placement. WashingtonFirst used the proceeds to redeem $8.9 million in SBLF preferred shares, which it issued to the Treasury Department in 2011.

Capital Commerce Bancorp in Milwaukee has raised more than $11 million through a private placement.

Middlefield Banc Corp. in Middlefield, Ohio, has bought out its largest shareholder.

From "too big to fail" to Glass-Steagall, the two leaders of the postcrisis recovery hashed out the economic issues, while pitching Bernanke's new book.

Republic Bancorp in Louisville, Ky., has agreed to buy Cornerstone Bancorp in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Fifth Third Bancorp has agreed to pay nearly $85 million to settle fraud charges related to undisclosed defective Federal Housing Administration-insured loans.

MBT Bancorp in Monroe, Mich., is planning to close four branches. The $1.3 billion-asset company also said it would stop offering retail services at a corporate office in Wyandotte, Mich.

A pair of community banks have lined up funding through separate subordinated-debt agreements with a firm in the Cayman Islands.

Sunshine Bancorp in Plant City, Fla., has hired another former executive from the former Susquehanna Bancshares in Lititz, Pa.

Capital One Financial has allowed shareholders to nominate candidates to the company’s board of directors, joining a spate of large U.S. companies moving to open access to proxy ballots.