Banking

October was one of the best months in recent memory in terms of the number of deals and their aggregate value. If that pace continues, 2015 would be the strongest year for bank M&A since the financial crisis.

JPMorgan Chase agreed to pay California $50 million to resolve claims the bank cheated tens of thousands of credit-card customers while collecting debts from them, California Attorney General Kamala Harris said.

Flushing Financial in Uniondale, N.Y., has promoted newly hired executive Susan Cullen to chief financial officer.

JPMorgan Chase & Co., the nation’s largest bank by assets, will pay $100 million to settle a California lawsuit alleging it used illegal methods to collect debts from more than 125,000 credit card holders.

Eagle Bancorp in Bethesda, Md., has redeemed all the shares it accumulated through the Small Business Lending Fund program.

Southcoast handled its sale in way that truly resembled a reality dating show, whittling a list of 28 suitors down to three finalists. BNC Bancorp in North Carolina succeeded in landing the deal after its presentation won over Southcoast's board.

The government-sponsored enterprise is working to rebuild partnerships with church organizations and housing financing agencies as part of a broader effort to make owning a home affordable for low- and moderate-income families.

Bank of America has agreed to pay $335 million to settle a lawsuit claiming it misled shareholders about risky mortgages and its dependence on the electronic mortgage registry known as MERS.

Virun Rampersad, the guy in charge of global innovation for the 230-year-old BNY Mellon, is more banker than technologist, and it shows in his strategy. His job is to create a culture that'll keep this banking behemoth relevant for centuries to come.

Atlantic Capital Bancshares in Atlanta sold $25 million in capital to help fund its purchase of First Security Group in Chattanooga, Tenn.

Investors Bancorp in Short Hills, N.J., posted higher profit in the third quarter, with strong interest income growth offsetting higher employee-related costs.

Charlie Shrem wouldn't let prison stop him from chatting with his online fans. Even after becoming the first person ever convicted of a Bitcoin-related crime, Shrem continues to cultivate a following among Bitcoin loyalists, some of whom paint him as a sort of martyr for the digital currency.

A U.S. district court’s efforts to fight foreclosures in Rhode Island by requiring loan modification talks in pending foreclosure cases has led to mixed results, according to Deputy Special Master Barbara Hurst.

The company recently created a collateralized-debt obligation backed by bank debt, bringing to mind the types of structured investments that plagued smaller banks a few years ago. This time, StoneCastle will hold all the credit risk, instead of selling it off to banks. The CDOs are backed by relatively straightforward sub debt rather than hybrid securities.

The Shazam PIN debit and ATM network has added the Independent Community Bankers Association of New Mexico to its client list.

A top Treasury Department official has expressed concern that small-business owners don't have adequate protections when borrowing from online lenders.

Visa's agreement to reunite with Visa Europe positions the global card brand to better address a world where payments and commerce have fewer borders.

The government's aggressive (and unsuccessful) prosecution of tiny Abacus Federal Savings Bank stands as one of the oddest episodes of post-crisis era.

Equity Bancshares in Wichita, Kan., is planning to raise up to $36 million through an initial public offering.

Los Angeles-based marketplace lender AssetAvenue has named a new chief executive.