EMEA

United Community Banks in Blairsville, Ga., has agreed to buy MoneyTree Corp. in Lenoir City, Tenn.

Synovus Financial in Columbus, Ga., reported a sharp rise in fourth-quarter profit on loan growth, lower expenses, improved credit quality and other factors.

A small Georgia lender has reached a deal to avoid a threatened involuntary bankruptcy, though the resolution is likely to leave key legal questions on trust-preferred debt and bankruptcy unresolved.

United Community Banks in Blairsville, Ga., reported higher quarterly profit because of loan growth and higher fee revenue.

Ocwen Financial Corp. named two new members to its board of directors as the nonbank servicer works to repair its image in the eyes of regulators and investors.

SunTrust Banks in Atlanta reported lower fourth-quarter profits as legal costs related to mortgages offset an increase in loans and deposits.

Numerous banks are expected to say they trimmed expenses yet again when they report fourth-quarter results in the coming weeks. But that trend may ebb soon as many executives are forced to spend on technology and to expand their businesses.

Credit unions are making community banks sweat in the small business lending arena.

WASHINGTON — The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. on Tuesday named Michael Dean as the director of the agency's Atlanta region. He had been serving as acting director of the region since April.

SunTrust Banks will provision $145 million in its fourth-quarter results for legal expenses related to previously disclosed mortgage issues, the company said in a regulatory filing Monday.