Americas

United Community Bank (UCBI) in Georgia is expanding its Small Business Administration funding by acquiring a portion of Business Carolina's (BCI) operations.

The long wait is finally over for Mercantile Bank (MBWM) in Grand Rapids, Mich., as it looks to acquire Firstbank (FBMI) in Alma, Mich.

First Niagara Financial (FNFG) in Buffalo is shelling out another six-figure sum for severance tied to an ousted executive.

National Bank Holdings (NBHC) in Greenwood Village, Colo., has consolidated the roles of chairman and chief executive.

Bankers have complained that the federal government's crackdown on their relationships with payday lenders and other merchants has gone too far, but Justice officials said in a blog post that banks that abet fraudsters' use of the payment system should be punished.

Bank of the Ozarks (OZRK) in Little Rock, Ark., is encouraging shareholders to support its proposal to more than double its authorized common stock.

Commerce Bancshares (CBSH) in Kansas City, Mo., has agreed to sell three branches in rural southeastern Missouri to New Era Bank in Fredericktown, Mo.

INDIANAPOLIS — Eli Lilly FCU will take a $26 million loss on default-prone loans to students enrolled at ITT Technical Institute, owned by ITT Educational Services, a for-profit college chain sued in February by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau for alleged predatory lending practices.

Washington Federal (WAFD) in Seattle negotiated a discount on its recent purchase of Bank of America (BAC) branches after deposits levels at those locations fell.

Colorado lawmakers on Wednesday passed a bill to establish a financial services co-operative to serve licensed marijuana dispensaries in the state.