Retail & Commercial

When people talk about the issues that now imperil community banks, they focus on things like low net interest margins and excessive regulations. But it's a dearth of young talent that could wind up dooming small banks.

Iberiabank in Lafayette, La., plans to close eight branches in Louisiana, Alabama and Florida.

Ontario Systems has been acquired by private equity firm Arlington Capital Partners, the two companies announced Wednesday.

Student loan default rates have doubled in the last decade and new research indicates the bulk of the increase is tied to the number of non-traditional borrowers attending two-year colleges and for-profit schools.

Small installment loans with monthly payments limited to 5% of a borrower's income offer a way for banks to serve low-income customers' credit needs while turning a profit.

Simmons First National in Pine Bluff, Ark., has agreed to an early termination of its federal loss-share agreements for its acquisition of four failed banks.

A small Internet-focused bank plans to offer Prosper Marketplace's personal loans directly to its own customers through the bank's website. Prosper could use it as a template for deals with other banks.

Alliance Data Systems has agreed to work with Toyota on a new line of private-label credit cards and to manage the Japanese automaker's existing co-branded card program.

Peoples Community Bank in Greenville, Mo., has agreed to buy Cabool State Bank, also in Missouri.

License numbers for loan officers, real estate agents and settlement agents will be required on one of the new TILA-Respa integrated disclosure forms, raising questions about whether they could trigger investigations of possible illegal marketing services agreements.