Banking

Buoyed by strong loan and deposit growth, Signature Bank (SBNY) in New York said Tuesday that its first-quarter profits climbed 30% from the same period last year, to $66 million.

Community banks need a steady flow of prospects. A partnership with a successful retail concept virtually guarantees constant customer traffic.

Bank of New York Mellon Corp., the world's largest custody bank, reported a first-quarter profit after a loss a year ago as rising stock markets lifted assets and fees for overseeing them.

Regions Financial (RF) in Birmingham, Ala., reported lower first-quarter results as improved credit and lower expenses failed to completely offset a steep decline in mortgage revenue.

BancorpSouth (BXS) in Tupelo, Miss., reported higher quarterly profit fueled by acquisitions and improved operating performance.

Heritage Financial (HBOS) in Albany, Ga., has agreed to buy Alarion Financial Services in Ocala, Fla.

NewBridge Bancorp (NBBC) in Greensboro, N.C., is planning to retool its retail banking operations in a move that will eliminate 5% of its work force.

Community Bank Shares of Indiana (CBIN) in New Albany has agreed to buy First Financial Service (FFKY) in Elizabethtown, Ky.

Until recently, Venus' approach to customer rewards was simple. It simply didn't have a program.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is raising concerns about a caveat in private student loan contracts that allows lenders to automatically put a borrower in default when a co-signer faces certain kinds of hardship.

Bank of Hawaii (BOH) increased earnings thanks to stronger returns from a growing asset base and other factors.

Peoples Bancorp (PEBO) in Marietta, Ohio, has agreed to buy North Akron Savings Bank in Ohio. Peoples said in a press release Monday that it will pay about $20.1 million in cash and stock for the $147 million-asset North Akron Savings.

Regulator Benjamin Lawsky is concerned that Hubzu, a website run by Ocwen's Alitsource affiliate, charges inflated fees "through conflicted business relationships" at the expense of mortgage investors and strapped homeowners.

Zions Bancorp. (ZION) in Salt Lake City reported lower quarterly earnings after its net interest income dipped.

Capital Bank Financial (CBF) in Coral Gables, Fla., nearly doubled earnings in the first quarter thanks to asset quality improvements.

Umpqua Holdings (UMPQ) in Portland, Ore., reported a steep dip in quarterly profits because of merger-related expenses and lower mortgage banking revenue.

First Defiance Financial (FDEF) in Defiance, Ohio, isn't going to buy First Community Bank in Columbus, Ohio, after all.

Arrow Financial Corporation (AROW) in Glens Falls, N.Y., said Monday that its first-quarter earnings climbed nearly 3% from the same period last year, to $5.3 million, as its loan portfolio continued to expand and asset quality remained strong.

The Portland, Ore., company aquired Sterling Financial last week. Though it created a $22 billion-asset regional player in the Pacific Northwest, CEO Ray Davis says the bank can keep its identify as a community bank.

The influential blogger says it's time for a national debate on the role Experian and other credit agencies play in protecting and consumers' identity and privacy.