Americas

Trustmark in Jackson, Miss., reported a dip in second-quarter earnings on shrinking profit margins and declining yields on earning assets.

Student lending startup CommonBond has hired Morgan Edwards, a longtime Wall Street leveraged debt specialist, as its chief financial officer.

ASB Bancorp in Asheville, N.C., is facing a potential proxy fight from New Jersey activist investor Lawrence Seidman.

Equity Bancshares in Wichita, Kan., has agreed to buy First Independence in Independence, Kan. The companies expect the deal to close in the fourth quarter, after approval from regulators and from First Independence's shareholders.

Southern States Bancshares in Anniston, Ala., has agreed to buy Columbus Community Bank in Georgia for $21.4 million.

TDECU said its successful merger with Dallas-based Texas Catholic Community Credit Union is the "most recent step" in its expansion plans.

FirstMerit in Akron, Ohio, reported lower second-quarter profit on shrinking interest and fee income, despite successful cost-cutting measures.

State Employees' Credit Union said it reached the two million-member milestone in June through "steady growth and a service-driven focus."

Independent Bank Group in McKinney, Texas, has agreed to buy Grand Bank in Dallas for $80.1 million.

Suncrest Bank in Visalia, Calif., has agreed to buy Sutter Community Bank in Yuba City, Calif., for $9.4 million in stock.