Retail & Commercial

WASHINGTON — Top Democrats on the House Financial Services Committee are asking several watchdog agencies to provide more information about federal regulators' employment policies and practices with regard to minorities and women.

Hans Morris, a former Citi banker and Visa president, is stepping back from General Atlantic to launch his own venture-capital firm. Nyca Partners plans to invest between $8 million and $12 million a year in companies that can "transform the way financial services are provided," he said in an interview.

The $1.6 billion-asset KleinBank said it expects to buy the $207 million-asset Prior Lake by the end of this year. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Platte Valley Financial Services in Scottsbluff, Neb., is buying a bank it played a role in forming.

First Federal Bank of Wisconsin in Waukesha and Bay View Federal Savings and Loan Association are merging.

Middleburg Bank in Virginia has agreed to sell its 62% stake in the mortgage banking firm Southern Trust Mortgage to two Virginia banks and Southern Trust's president.

U.S. Bank has begun offering e-payment kiosks to companies that want to shrink lines during their stores' busiest hours.

More banks are deciding to invest millions in mobile banking, video tellers and core-processing upgrades after avoiding capital spending for a long time. They says it's a good move for the long term, but some will take heat from investors and other critics in the short run.

The Overseas Private Investment Corp.'s board of directors has approved a $200 million financing guarantee that will support Wells Fargo's lending to U.S. small and midsize firms that have set up shop abroad.

Senate Banking members examined concerns about alternative lending products such as payday loans on Wednesday, though consensus on what, if any, changes are needed to the industry remains elusive.