Retail & Commercial

The industry doesn't need to invest millions in further education and legislation. The road to a good credit score is pretty straightforward.

The Treasury Department plans to sell its stake in eight more institutions as it seeks to continuing winding down the 5-year-old Troubled Asset Relief Program.

Another FBR bank analyst is leaving the northern Virginia boutique to pursue a career in investor relations. Brett Scheiner has left FBR to become the investor relations officer for Popular Inc. (BPOP) in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

First Merchants (FRME) in Muncie, Ind., has reduced its ties to the Treasury Department's Small Business Lending Fund.

Serial acquirer Grandpoint Capital has agreed to buy Gilmore Bank. Both are in Los Angeles.

First ULB (FUBP) in Oakland, Calif., has agreed to buy Union Financial in Albuquerque, N.M.

Deposit-rich banks needing to make loans are suppressing rates on jumbo mortgages to compete for wealthier customers as home prices soar in expensive areas from Manhattan to San Francisco.

Prosperity Bancshares in Houston rarely participates in auctions, but CEO David Zalman was confident enough of his offer for FVNB to the bank solicit another bid. Zalman won, and Prosperity's investors embraced the result.

The $400 million-asset bank said Tuesday that it had acquired Luhn-McCain Insurance, also in San Antonio. The bank did not disclose the price.

A California man was found "not guilty" of vandalism Monday for writing anti-bank messages outside of Bank of America (BAC) branches in San Diego.