Banking

The future of bank M&A took clearer shape in 2013. A certain kind of deal, the merger of equals, rose to the fore and that momentum has carried into 2014. The trend coincides with a change in dealmaking styles. Buyers used to win banks in pricey, unpredictable auctions. Now they have to be friendly masters of the negotiating table, and often have to conduct patient talks over an extended period of time. It all sounds very friendly, but it's hard to do.

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The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency plans to release Associated Banc-Corp (ASBC) in Green Bay, Wis., from a February 2012 consent order.

A recap of the informed opinions (and the discussions they generated) on BankThink this week.

The new cybersecurity framework issued under a White House executive order lacks congressional mandate and tracks rules banks already follow, but some experts believe the new document could be a standard used in data breach litigation and future regulatory changes.

First Security Bank of Malta in Montana has been freed from a prompt corrective action issued by the Federal Reserve Board.

Banks are preaching the importance of getting low-cost deposits on their books now, ahead of new Basel liquidity rules, and the impending rise of interest rates.

These deals are hard to put together but are well worth it -- if management teams can get through the problems of working together. Sterne Agee's Michael Barry and Daryle DiLascia explain.

Target's cybersecurity staff urged the retailer to review the security of its payments system at least two months before hackers compromised its network, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal.

Baltimore County Savings Bank's 16 branches will officially open next week as branches of First National Bank of Hermitage, Pa.

Buyers used to win banks in pricey, unpredictable auctions. Now they have to be friendly masters of the negotiating table.

Federal authorities on Friday took their most forceful step to date toward bringing state-licensed marijuana businesses into the financial mainstream.

The California company ended three years of loan runoff after expanding into San Diego and adding managers for its agribusiness, construction and mortgage operations. What it would really like to do next is find the perfect acquisition.

Community banks are facing mounting competition from bigger companies, regulators and consulting firms as they try to staff up in their compliance departments. American Banker editors discuss how small banks can compete for the best compliance personnel and what they should be looking for in potential new hires.

The CardLinX Association has released a set of guidelines that are directed at helping the parties involved in merchant-funded offers -- including financial institutions, publishers, advertisers, merchants, merchant acquirers and payment networks -- detect when they are being ripped off.

A group that advocates for more women on corporate boards has honored Royal Bank of Canada and KeyCorp (KEY) Chief Executive Beth Mooney for promoting diversity within their ranks.

Bond Street Holdings in Weston, Fla., plans to close four of the 25 branches it acquired from Great Florida Bank in Miami Lakes.

Shopping and banking on a mobile device has always been clunky, as processes designed for a full screen and keyboard have often been crushed inelegantly to fit a smartphone's much smaller screen.

A Maine bill to thwart predatory online lenders is moving to the full state legislature with the unanimous support of the state's Insurance and Financial Services Committee.

Bank of America Corp., the second-largest U.S. lender, is cutting 450 mortgage jobs from West Coast offices after new loans fell short of internal forecasts, two people with direct knowledge of the plans said.