Capital

Flush with capital and facing stiff competition for customers, many regional banks appear to be mulling acquisitions to accelerate growth.

First Reliance in South Carolina, which recently announced its first bank acquisition, is angling to take advantage of disruption caused by bigger mergers in the Carolinas.

Navient has suspended stock buybacks to buy and expand a debt-refinancing firm that faces stiff competition from fintechs, and some shareholders aren’t happy.

The Illinois company, four months removed from its last bank acquisition, just announced the biggest purchase in its history. Alpine Bancorp. will add low-cost deposits and scale to Midland States' wealth management business.

The company agreed to buy Commercial Bancshares for $59 million in stock.

The company, which is still recovering from two recent hurricanes, said it will voluntary comply with several key restrictions that were in the 2010 written agreement.

Washington Federal has pulled its application to buy Anchor Bancorp after regulators flagged issues tied to its BSA systems and processes. The companies said they remain committed to the deal.

The company has agreed to buy Bay Bancorp for $129 million in stock.

The company, which agreed to buy Independence Bancshares, also brought in $25 million by selling common and preferred stock.

The company is looking to raise about $115 million. A portion of the proceeds would help pay for Merchants' pending purchase of Joy State Bank.