Banking

International Dairy Queen, the ice cream chain owned by Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc., said customer data were compromised by hackers.

First Commonwealth Financial in Indiana, Pa., has acquired Thompson/McLay Insurance Associates.

Complete Financial Solutions in Spokane, Wash., has agreed to buy Northern Star Financial in Mankato, Minn.

The head of Key's charitable foundation is lauded at American Banker's Most Powerful Women in Banking Gala for her role in improving educational opportunities for low-income and minority students in Cleveland.

Kyle Waters and Andy Bower announced the creation of Loan Evaluation Services this week. The firm will provide independent loan portfolio reviews for community and regional banks that are planning to make acquisitions or have a need for third-party loan portfolio reviews.

Independent originators could be shut out from offering this product as there is no secondary market.

People and processes are just as essential as technology as banks strive to save on costs in newer store models, say branch-makeover specialists.

The Federal Reserve Board has published an 11-page guide for banks looking to acquire large rivals.

Smaller institutions are likely to report stable net interest margins, even as competition for the best credits remains fierce. Loan volume could suffer from a seasonal slowdown, while investors would be keen to track commentary on loan structure.

A Citigroup subsidiary has agreed to refund nearly $16 million to 31,234 customers who were said to have been charged higher investment advisory fees than promised.

DBA International announced Wednesday it is accepting applications from collection law firms and third-party collection agencies that wish to earn the association's professional certification designation.

Nearly 800,000 Home Equity Lines of Credit were originated nationwide in a recent 12-month period, the highest mark since the 12 months ending June 2009, according to a new report.

Wells Fargo will pay up to $5 million to resolve allegations it discriminated against mothers on maternity leave, the largest settlement of such claims ever reached by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Pennsylvania-based collection agency Commonwealth Financial Systems Inc. owes more than $2 million to the state's Department of Revenue.

Community West Bancshares in Goleta, Calif., is continuing to find ways to buy back stock it issued through the Troubled Asset Relief Program.

Insurers flush with capital are rushing to grab part of an expanding cyber coverage market that's been spurred on by high-profile hackings at JPMorgan Chase and Home Depot.

Bankers should temper their criticism of new regulations with some support for reform, lest the American public think the industry has failed to heed the lessons of the financial crisis.

Fortress Risk Management, a Connecticut-based financial security software firm, announced a five-year deal this morning to provide Canandaigua National Bank and Trust with its DisputeManager software and other services to react to financial crimes.

Veritex Holdings in Dallas could sell up to $40.4 million of its common stock as part of its initial public offering.

NewBridge Bancorp in Greensboro, N.C., has agreed to buy Premier Commercial Bank in Greensboro.