Credit unions are helping another generation of students fund their secondary education, and other ways the movement is giving back.

The New Jersey company reported lower quarterly profit that included professional fees tied to addressing an informal order from regulators.

Southwest Bancorp, frustrated with a lethargic stock price, opted to find a buyer last summer. It was holding talks with Simmons First when the post-election run-up in bank stocks gave its shares an unexpected lift. Did it do the right thing by proceeding?

Valley National's latest acquisition would make it a much bigger player in Florida and provide a platform to write more auto loans. Both markets present attractive returns but high risks.

The company will also gain $260 million in loans and $180 million in deposits from Banner Corp.

The company has agreed to buy Puget Sound Bancorp to expand in a competitive, fast-growth market.

The Blairsville, Ga., bank is in growth mode with strong second-quarter lending performances and two deals in the works, but its provision for loan losses was described as too low in one research note.

The Texas company would add seven branches and more than $300 million of assets by acquiring Valley Bancorp.

First Financial in Ohio is buying MainSource in Indiana — with a twist. MainSource's leader will become CEO.

Honors, accolades and giving back.

The acquisition would be Valley's third in the Sunshine State since 2014 and would give the New Jersey company its first branches in Alabama.

The Louisiana company, which recorded a large loan-loss provision to cover energy-related chargeoffs, also disclosed a new regulatory order from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

The Michigan company's profit benefited from a larger balance sheet and a reduction in merger-related expenses.

The New York company, which is preparing to buy Astoria Financial, reported year-over-year increases in commercial-and-industrial and commercial real estate loans.

Union Bankshares in Virginia lost several key lending officers after it bought StellarOne. Management as a result has made changes to minimize employee flight from its latest M&A target, Xenith Bankshares.

The Michigan company had fewer gains from loan sales. It also reported an increase in noninterest expenses.

WashingtonFirst had a sudden window of opportunity to sell itself in the latter half of 2016, but it had been preparing for a possible sale for more than two years before that, and perhaps as a result it received one of the most valuable buyout offers this year.

Encouraging young readers, offering financial literacy training, helping graduates pursue higher education and other ways credit unions are helping educate the next generation.

Associated Banc-Corp is the latest industry welterweight to get back into M&A. That should benefit larger sellers that have watched the bigger regionals sit idle in the last couple of years.

From grants for nonprofits to partnerships benefiting local children's hospitals, here's another look at how credit unions are giving back to the communities they serve.