Banking

U.S. Century Bank in Doral, Fla., sold about $120 million of loans in the fourth quarter of 2012.

Walmart and the other Merchant Customer Exchange members recently announced they would opt for a software-based mobile wallet instead of one based on Near Field Communication hardware. Is this a blow to NFC's future or does the technology have enough supporters to eventually change how people pay?

The Federal Reserve Board has terminated a written agreement with Blue Valley Ban Corp. in Overland Park, Kan.

Royal Business Bank is relying more on making deals, particularly for banks that focus on Chinese-American communities, as competition intensifies.

The $1.4 billion-asset company said Friday that it has reactivated its buyback program, while increasing the number of shares eligible for repurchase to 5% of outstanding common stock.

Many companies are trying to repurpose iPads as payment terminals. Leaf, a Cambridge, Mass.-based startup, instead created a commerce-specific tablet for small-business owners.

The U.S. Federal Reserve Board plans to get a better idea of how Americans are making payments — when they don’t use cash.

WSFS Financial (WSFS) in Wilmington, Del., warned that its fourth-quarter results will include a nearly $4 million hit from paying off Federal Home Loan Bank advances.

Analysts have been concerned about the bank's inability to rein in personnel expenses despite a large cost-cutting initiative.

First Financial Bancorp (FFBC) in Cincinnati gave investors a sneak peek at its fourth-quarter results while announcing a key management shift.

M&F Bancorp (MFBP) in Durham, N.C., said in a regulatory filing Thursday that it hired Randall Hall as its chief financial officer. He succeeded Lyn Hittle, who will retire in March.

Savings reminders come to SmartyPig and ImpulseSave customers as they shop online.

Bank of Kentucky Financial (BKYF) in Crestview Hills reported higher earnings as credit issues subsided.

Swift's Innotribe initiative has announced the start of its yearlong competition for financial services-related innovation.

Indiana community bank STAR Financial is adding new personal financial management tools to its digital banking offerings, and heavily marketing them.

Wintrust Financial (WTFC) in Rosemont, Ill., posted higher earnings after pursuing acquisitions.

American Banker readers share their views on the most pressing banking topics of the week. As excerpted from the Comments sections of AmericanBanker.com articles.

The concept of making anonymous online transactions is in the spotlight because of the prominence of the digital currency Bitcoin, but most consumers remain uneasy with the cryptocurrency's instability and risk. An alternative for the privacy-minded might sprout from Tor, or The Onion Router.

COLUMBUS, Ind. – Centra CU has acquired the former Kiel Bros. Oil Co. headquarters to house administrative staff.

CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. – Cap Com FCU has signed a contract with the Shen Board of Education to open a branch inside the Shenendehowa High School East next fall.